PRESS RELEASE N. 206/2009
Banjul, 10 November 2009 – The Third Conference of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), which started on Sunday, 8 November, 2009, in Banjul; Gambia, ended today, Tuesday, 10 November 2009, with constructive conclusions and recommendations to promote and support NHRIs in Africa.
The meeting noted that since the last Conference held in 2004, NHRIs had made significant progress in promoting and protecting human rights in Africa through activities such as capacity building, advocacy and counseling. However, challenges such as the unavailability of financial and human resources are still to be addressed. There is also the need to strengthen relations with other actors at the national and regional levels.
At the closing ceremony of the Third Conference of NHRIs, participants recommended that Member States should establish NHRIs according to the Paris Principles. NHRIs should be provided with the appropriate technical and financial support. Member States should further ensure that NHRIs fulfill their missions without impediments and maintain regular and constructive dialogue.
Participants recommended that the African Union should organize NHRIs conferences every two years, and capacity building thematic sessions every six months, prior to the ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR). The following topics were proposed for the thematic sessions: governance of NHRIs and interaction with other African Union (AU) organs with human rights promotion mandate; social, economic and cultural rights and transitional justice. It was proposed that a focal point should be established at the Political Affairs Department of the AU to ensure coordination with NHRIs. To this end, a study to assess the status of relations between AU and the NHRIs should be conducted. Participants recommended that advocacy should be carried out for the establishment of NHRIs in Member States. Dialogue should be facilitated between AU organs Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC), African Court of Human and Peoples' Rights, the Africa Court Justice and Human Rights, ACHPR, etc.) and national human rights institutions. The meeting also requested the AU to assist national human rights institutions in mobilizing resources and building capacities.
With regards to NHRIs, the conference recommended that they should participate in the work of ACDPHR, including the submission of shadow reports. They are also to participate in the promotion and protection of women's rights and advocate for the ratification of regional instruments on these rights. NHRIs should also reinforce partnership with human rights and civil society organizations, including traditional and religious leaders. They should further participate in the implementation of General Assembly Resolution A/RES/60/1 on the development of a coherent human rights strategy for Africa as well as the implementation of the recommendations of the Durban Conference on racism. In addition, NHRIs should encourage bilateral cooperation within the national human rights institutions community with a view to building capacity. Lastly, the Conference recommended that, in collaboration with AUC and ACDPHR, the impact of the resolution on granting of affiliate status to NHRIs should be assessed for its potential revision, as may be necessary.
