African Commission Monitor
NEW FORMAT!
Kumulika is now an annual publication covering the developments of the African Commission's past year. 
MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR | NEW FORMAT FOR KUMULIKA
By Clément Voulé, ISHR's African advocacy director and programme manager (States in transition) and Adelaide Etong, ISHR's Africa advocacy consultant

We are pleased to introduce you to the new format of the Kumulika publication. To allow for a better understanding and overview of the developments at the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Commission) during an entire year, the publication will now be issued once a year.

Through this yearly publication, ISHR will take a new approach on providing analysis and up to date news on what is happening, the developments and the outcomes of the sessions and the NGO Forum.

Last year the African Commission celebrated its thirty years of existence. The last session of the year was an opportunity to think back and reflect on how its work grew over the years and the challenges it faced while implementing its mandate to promote and protect human rights in Africa. It also allowed the commission to acknowledge the importance of the work done by civil society organisations in support to the implementation of its mandate. These past thirty years NGOs have provided invaluable information on country situations and advocated tirelessly for the establishment of several special procedures of the Commission.    
Click here for the 60th session's summary 
Click here for the 61st session's summary 
Some African Commission snapshots 
© ISHR
60TH SESSION SUMMARY 

The 60th ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (the African Commission) was held in Niamey, Niger from 8 to 22 May 2017. It was preceded by the NGO Forum and the 34th African Human Rights Book Fair on the 4 to 6 May 2017. Read the final communiqué here. 
ACHPR60 | KEY DEVELOPMENTS

After an unsuccessful attempt to host the 58th session due to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the government of Niger finally hosted the ordinary session of the 60th African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The session was held from 8 to 22 May 2017 in Niamey, the capital of Niger.  As has been the case in the past, this session was preceded by a three-day long NGO Forum. For the forum’s key outcomes click here. 
 
NGO FORUM | STATE AND FUTURE OF DEFENDERS IN AFRICA

On the margins of the African Commission's session, a panel including experts of the African Commission and human rights defenders raised awareness about the need to continue to provide greater protection of human rights defenders in Africa, given the significant regression of democracy on the continent. 
NGO FORUM | RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED

The NGO Forum adopted six country resolutions including one on Burundi and Cameroon, as well as a recommendation on enforced disappearances and a resolution on combatting sexual and gender-based violence in South Sudan.
ACHPR60 | REPORT ON DEFENDERS WORKING IN STATES IN TRANSITION IN AFRICA
 
ISHR recently published its report on ‘Lessons Learnt: Human Rights Defenders Working in States in Transition.’ A State’s transition towards democracy will invariably present particular challenges for human rights and their defenders. But it will also present opportunities. ISHR seeks to ensure that defenders have the tools that will enable the development of national laws and mechanisms that are compatible with, and give effect to, international human rights obligations. We hope that this report will be used by defenders to reflect on the strategies, successes and shortcomings of other campaigns and programmes in order to appreciate the impact they’ve had in various African States.
 
ACHPR60 | ISHR'S STATEMENTS

ISHR delivered two statements during the 60th ordinary session of the African Commission. The statements congratulated the Government of Côte d’Ivoire for adopting the implementation decree for its national human rights defenders protection law. They also raised concerns about the situation of human rights in African countries such as Ethiopia, Burundi and Sudan and noted the end of Commissioner Alapini-Gansou’s term as the Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights Defenders in Africa.

NGO FORUM | OUTCOME OF THE 34TH NGO FORUM 

The 34th NGO Forum was organised and facilitated by the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHR) in collaboration with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Commission) and the NGO Forum Steering Committee. The focus of the NGO Forum was ‘Engaging young people, especially women in human rights and democracy in Africa’. This central theme is related to the implementation status of the African Youth Charter.
ACHPR60  | RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE COMMISSION

The African Commission adopted a resolution on Human Rights Defenders in Africa as well as a number of several other thematic resolutions such as one on Ensuring the Upholding of the African Charter in the Extractive Industries Sector.
STATE REPORT  | REVIEW OF MAURITANIA

Mauritania submitted its second report to the African Commission in March 2017. The report covers the period from January 2006 to December 2014. It further includes Mauritania’s initial report about the implementation of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol). 
RESOURCES  | USEFUL RESOURCES AND PUBLICATIONS

The following new publications were launched and disseminated during the NGO Forum and the African Commission:
 
61ST SESSION SUMMARY 
The 61st ordinary session was held in Banjul, the Gambia from 1 to 15 November  and was preceded by the NGO Forum and the 35th African Human Rights Book Fair from 28 to 30 October. Read the final communiqué here. 
ACHPR61 | WRAP UP ARTICLE

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Commission) held its 61st ordinary session from 1 to 15 November 2017. This session was marked by the celebration of the Commission’s 30th anniversary.

NGO FORUM | OUTCOME OF THE 35TH NGO FORUM 

This session of the NGO Forum was built around two specific thematic areas: the status of human rights and democracy and networking for human rights in Africa. 
ACHPR61 | ACHIEVING POSITIVE HUMAN RIGHTS CHANGE

During the NGO Forum in Banjul, ISHR officially introduced its new report focused on the crucial role played by human rights defenders during transition in African States. We also participated in an event taking stock of the challenges faced by human rights defenders in Africa. 

NGO FORUM | TOWARDS A BETTER PROTECTION OF DEFENDERS AT NATIONAL LEVEL

During the NGO Forum preceding the 61st session of the African Commission, ISHR organised a panel on the state of promotion and protection of human rights defenders at the national level. The event, which was held on 30 October 2017, aimed at presenting the developments in African countries which have already adopted national laws promoting and protecting the work of human rights defenders. It was also an opportunity to discuss further steps for the countries in the process of establishing such laws.
 

CIVIL SOCIETY |  TRAINING AHEAD OF AFRICAN COMMISSION 

Interacting with the international and regional human rights mechanisms takes some skills and tools. ISHR organised a training from 25 to 27 October 2017 for African human rights defenders to help them polish their knowledge.

FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION AND ASSEMBLY | NEW GUIDELINES LAUNCHED

ISHR is pleased to have contributed to the creation of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights’ Guidelines on Freedom of Association and Assembly in Africa, providing authoritative guidance to States to ensure that law, policy and practice conform with regional and international human rights standards.

STATES REVIEW | AFRICAN COMMISSION EXAMINED RWANDA, CONGO AND NIGER

Rwanda, Niger and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Congo) were all present and up to date for their examination by the African Commission' s 61st session.  An examination that went from 'mildly OK' to 'pretty bad' given the preoccupying human rights situation in all three countries. 

 

SPECIAL PROCEDURES | END OF MANDATE OF SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON DEFENDERS 

After 10 years as Special Rapporteur for human rights defenders and 12 years as a Commissioner, Ms Reine Alapini-Gansou bid goodbye to the African Commission at its 61st session. ISHR took this opportunity to thank the Special Rapporteur for the achievements during her mandate and pointed out emerging threats and challenges in some countries. 
ITEM 5 | DEFENDERS' LEGAL PROTECTION MOVING FORWARD, ALONG WITH GROSS VIOLATIONS


In a statement delivered on 5 November 2017 before the African Commission, ISHR commended progress made on legal protection and recognition of human rights defenders while expressing serious concerns on increasing violations in various countries. 
 
ISHR would like to thank Irish Aid and Brot für die Welt for their generosity in supporting this publication. 
Kumulika is a newsletter produced by ISHR with the aim of informing readers of developments and opportunities around the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.
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