African Commission on Human and Peoples'
Rights
Office: Secretariat of the African Commission on Human and Peoples'
Rights
P.O. Box 673, Banjul, The Gambia
HISTORY AND PRESENT STATUS
The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights was established
in terms of Article 30 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights. The
Commission consists of eleven independent members elected for a term of six years.
The Commission normally holds two ordinary sessions annually, one around March/April
and the second around September/October, each meeting lasting two weeks.
The
sessions of the Commission are attended not only by official government delegations,
but also by international and national non-governmental organisations having accreditation
with the Commission. All delegates, including representatives of States Parties
to the African Charter, non-governmental organisations and national institutions,
are allowed to participate in the public sessions of the Commission.
Purpose
Among
its many functions, the Commission considers reports from States Parties to the
African Charter, on the measures they have taken to give effect to the rights
and freedoms recognised and guaranteed by the Charter. It also receives reports
on human rights situations in different African countries.
South Africa's
Involvement
South Africa acceded to the African Charter on Human and
People's Rights on 9 July 1996 and submitted its first report in terms of Article
62 of the Charter on 9 October 1998. The report was presented at the 25th session
of the Commission in April 1999.
Dr Barney Pityana, the Vice Chancellor
of the University of South Africa, served a six-year term as a Commissioner, which
expired in July 2003.
South Africa hosted the 31st Ordinary Session of the
African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights from 2 to 16 May 2002.
OTHER
DEPARTMENTS
