The Daily Observer (Banjul)
Aji Fatou Faal and Fatou Sowe
11 November 2009
Banjul — The African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS), in collaboration with the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) on Saturday, held a three-day forum on the participation of NGOs in the 46th ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights and 20th African Human Rights Book Fair, at the Kairaba Beach Hotel.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Hannah Foster, executive director, ACDHRS, said the overview of human rights in Africa will provide a contextual background for pertinent themes - the protocol on women's rights in Africa, the Durban revue, conference against racism, the review conference - Beijing +15, the challenges facing the African court on human and peoples' rights, democratic development, and the protection of human rights defenders will be reviewed for NGO contribution at the public session of the African Commission.
According to her, CSOs are concerned about the situation in Zimbabwe, which, she said, must be considered before it deteriorates once again. It is crucial that relationships need to be improved in a spirit of true and real dialogue and power sharing between opposition (MDC) and the ruling party - the ZANU-PF - in the light of the agreement set up since last year. " Concerted efforts are therefore urgently needed in order to restore the dignity of women and men, in Africa and in the wider global community," she said.
For his part, Bahame Tom Nyanduga, acting chairperson, (ACHPRS), said the NGO forum is a very important event on the African human rights calendar. He added that since the African centre took up the organisation of the NGP forum in the early 90s, they have witnessed enhanced interaction between the African commission and NGOs. According to him, the establishment of the interest groups has focused debates on pertinent issues on the fact that the work of the forum is organised on the basis of the proposed agenda of the commission, which enables NGOs to contribute ideas to the items when they are eventually deliberated upon by the commission. According to Nyandugu, Africa continues to face a myriad of challenges, which can only be resolved if Africa is at peace with itself and its people. He noted that the challenge of ensuring that the economic and social rights of every person are guaranteed is becoming more difficult as the continent continues to experience the worst period of climatic and environmental changes.
He mentioned that the forum as the biggest convener of human rights defenders on the continent must dedicate itself to the fight against dictatorship and bad governance in Africa. " I am gratified to note that one of the topics that the forum will consider is a comprehensive human rights strategy for Africa," he stated. Isatou Alwar Graham, senior state counsel, ministry of Justice, deputising for the Attorney General and minister of Justice, said her government recognises the efforts of the ACDHRS in facilitating this forum to enable NGOs to fully participate in the work of the African Commission, which is mandated to oversee the implementation and interpretation of the rights and duties setup on the African charter on human and peoples' rights.
She added that it is pertinent that the government and NGOs work together and to bear in mind the responsibility attached to this relationship for there is strength in unity. According to Graham, while there has been marked progress in terms of improving democracy and human rights situation in some areas in the continent, a lot more remains to be done in other parts.
He noted that the African commission is indeed very important in the work of human rights in Africa as it is the only body mandated to promote, protect and interpret the African charter on human and peoples' rights, the main regional instrument that directs the myths of other Africa regional instruments on human rights. " I am certain that this forum, like the previous ones, would open the platform for fruitful deliberations, resulting in the formulation of laudable strategies designed to push the continent a step ahead in the process of ensuring the respect to human dignity, human rights and the democratisation process," Graham concluded.
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