Africa: Human Rights Commissions Often Silent, Have Little Effect

26 February 2001
allAfrica.com
By Staff Reporter

Washington, DC — In a major new study released February 22, Human Rights Watch charges that although government sponsored human rights commissions have grown across Africa they have not for the most part led to better human rights protection.

Only Togo had such a commission in 1989. Today, although half the countries in Africa have commissions, many of them appear designed to deflect international criticism of human rights abuses rather than to address the abuses themselves. "African governments are jumping on the human rights bandwagon, but they don't seem truly interested in helping victims," said Peter Takirambudde, Executive Director of the Africa division of Human Rights Watch. "Many of these government human rights commissions are weak. The U.N. and international funders must not give legitimacy to commissions that serve merely as window dressing."

Sincere efforts have been made to curtail human rights abuses in some countries, the report acknowledges, citing Benin, Ghana, Malawi, Senegal, South Africa, and Uganda. "The creation of a human rights commission appears to be a genuine expression of the government's pledge to bring more transparency and government accountability" in those nations the report says.

The 407-page report, "Protectors or Pretenders?" examined Africa's twenty-two commissions over a two-year period.

The courage and integrity of commission members is crucial, according to Human Rights Watch. Many commissioners fail to publicly denounce abuses, either from fear of retribution, or out of hope of government favor. In some places, commissioners downplay their government's abuses. Others are careful to avoid comment on politically sensitive violations, as in Nigeria under military rule. And several have yet to fully establish themselves due to legislative problems, delays in appointing staff, or lack of funding.

"Millions of Africans are being displaced, tortured, or killed," said Binaifer Nowrojee, primary author of the report and counsel with the Africa division of Human Rights Watch. "Yet the sad truth is that human rights commissioners in Africa often turn a blind eye to these abuses."

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