Government of Gambia urges defence of human rights
Banjul, The Gambia- 19 October 2011– The Gambian government has come out strongly in support of human rights and has urged governments, their agents and judicial systems to defend them “One cannot continue to oppress people and set aside their rights. Human rights are inviolable and sacrosanct. They should always be upheld and defended by governments, their agents and judicial systems,” said Mr. Edward Gomez- Gambian Minister of Justice. The Minister was addressing participants today at the opening session of the forum on the participation of non-governmental organisations in the 50th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and People’s rights which is being held from 19th to 21st October in Banjul, The Gambia.
The forum is being held under the theme ’30th Anniversary of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights”. Over the three days, the meeting will hear updates on regional human rights situations from the five African regions i.e. Southern, West, North, East and Central. It will also discuss the progress and challenges experienced during the 30 year existence of the Charter. Other topics to come under the spotlight will include the challenges of forced eviction and the violation of the right of slum dwellers, freedom of association over the past 30 years, freedom of expression and protection of journalists, sexual orientation and gender identity, death penalty in Africa, indigenous populations and communities in Africa, and prisons and conditions of detention in Africa.
The Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights, Mrs. Rene Alapina Gansou recalled the many challenges still facing implementation of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, despite the progress made in the thirty years since its adoption. She specifically referred to the continued existence of the death penalty in many African Union Member States and challenged the civil society organisations to work together with the ACHPR to fully and effectively implement the Charter.
The ACHPR is an organ of the African Union, charged with ensuring the promotion and protection of human and peoples’ rights throughout Africa. In the organisation of the NGO forum, it is working closely with the African Center for Democracy and Human Rights and Studies, ACDHRS, which is represented at the forum by its Chairperson Mr Andrew Chigovera, a former Commissioner of the ACHPR. The African Union Commission is represented by the Department of Political Affairs.
Civil society groups, journalists and individuals from Africa and internationally are attending the meeting.
Tomorrow, Thursday 20th October will see the official opening of the Consultation on the implementation and monitoring of the Human Rights Strategy for Africa, also to be held in Banjul. Journalists are invited to attend the opening ceremony at 09:00 at the Senegambia beach hotel. Media enquiries should be directed to Mrs. Wynne Musabayana Deputy Head of Communication and Information of the AUC on Gambian number +220 3146584. WZ
AU Commission
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