A Human Rights Strategy for Africa
31-03-2010
The African Union Commission (AUC) organized a consultation with the AU Organs/Institutions and RECs on developing a Human Rights Strategy for Africa from 11-13 March 2010 in Banjul, The Gambia.
The meeting reviewed the mapping document on the African Human Rights System and the roadmap towards establishing a Human Rights Strategy for Africa.
The Meeting resolved as follows:
(a) The process towards the formulation of the African Human Rights Strategy should be intensified and accomplished within the set time frame;
(b) The Human Rights Strategy constitute part of the Shared Values of the African Continent, which should input into the AU Summit in January 2011;
(c) The mapping document should be circulated amongst AU organs/institutions, RECs and other relevant stakeholders for detailed formal input into the Mapping Document;
(d) The Mapping Document should be revised and finalized as well as the Roadmap by the AUC and its strategic partners;
(e) The Political Affairs Department will regularly consult with relevant AU Organs/institutions and RECs in the process of drafting the Human Rights Strategy for Africa;
(f) The process of drafting the African Human Rights Strategy should begin as soon as possible as indicated in the roadmap;
(g) A meeting of major stakeholders should be organized to present the revised Mapping Document and Roadmap and progress report on the drafting of the human Rights Strategy to them on the margins of the next African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR) Session in May 2010.
(h) It was recommended that the outcomes of the meeting will form the basis for regular consultations between the AUC and the other AU Organs with human rights mandates, RECS and partners on the preparation of the theme (Shared Values) of the January 2011 Summit.
Excerpts from the Communiqué from the meeting available in English at www.africa-union.org/root/au/Conferences/2010/March/gambia/Banjul-Communique and in French at www.africa-union.org/root/au/Conferences/2010/March/gambia/Communiqué