Final Communiqué

Final Communiqué of the 72nd Ordinary Private Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights 19 July - 2 August 2022

ENG Communique final 72eme SO.pdf
Final Communiqué of the 72nd Ordinary Private Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights Virtual Session 19 July - 2 August 2022 1. The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (the Commission), held its 72nd Ordinary Private Session (the Session) virtually from 19 July to 2 August 2022. 2. The Session was chaired by the Honourable Commissioner Rémy Ngoy Lumbu, Chairperson of the Commission, assisted by the Honourable Commissioner Maya Sahli-Fadel, Vice-Chairperson. 3. The session was attended by the following Commissioners:: i. Honourable Commissioner Rémy Ngoy Lumbu, Chairman; ii. Honourable Commissioner Maya Sahli-Fadel, Vice-Chairperson iii. Honourable Commissioner Solomon Ayele Dersso; iv. Honourable Commissioner Hatem Essaiem; v. Honourable Commissioner Maria Teresa Manuela; vi. Honourable Commissioner Mudford Zachariah Mwandenga; vii. Honourable Commissioner Marie Louise Abomo; viii. Honourable Commissioner Janet Ramatoulie Sallah-Njie; ix. Honourable Commissioner Ourveena Geereesha Topsy-Sonoo; and x. Honourable Commissioner Idrissa Sow. 4. The Commission reviewed and adopted its agenda, with amendments. 5. The Commission held induction sessions for the new Commissioners who took office in December 2021. 6. The Commission considered and commented on the proposals of the Working Group on specific issues, including the improvement of its working methods. 7. The Commission reviewed and adopted the following documents : i. The Chairperson's Report on the June/July 2022 Meetings of the African Union's Legislative Organs; ii. Guidelines for Parallel Reports to the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights;
iii. iv. The General Observation of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights on the obligations of States to regulate private actors involved in the provision of social services under the Charter; and Rules to establish and operate the alert and reporting mechanism to the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights in situations of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. 8. The Commission considered and adopted the concluding observations of the following periodic reports: i. the 7th Periodic Report of the Republic of Namibia on the implementation of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and the 2nd Report on the Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol); ii. The 6th to 10th Combined Periodic Reports of the Republic of Benin under the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights; and iii. The combined 12th and 13th Periodic Reports of the Republic of Kenya under the African Charter and the Initial Report under the Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Women in Africa. 9. The Commission considered and made observations on the following reports: i. The Report of the Secretariat on the follow-up actions of the 69th, 70th and 71st Ordinary Sessions; ii. The Report of the Working Group on Communications; iii. The Narrative Report on the Audit of Communications; iv. The Secretary's Report on the Administrative Admission of Complaints; v. Report on the preparations for the celebration of the 35th anniversary of the Commission; and vi. Report on the 15th and 16th Extraordinary Sessions of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union held in May 2022 in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, respectively on Humanitarian and Pledging Issues and on Terrorism and Unconstitutional Changes of Government. 10. The Commission considered the following communications : i. Five (05) Communications on Merits (461/13; 419/12; 443/13; 454/13; 473/14);
ii. iii. Seven (07) communications on admissibility, of which five (05) were declared admissible (702/18; 734/19; 730/19; 725/19, 733/19), one (01) declared inadmissible (624/16) and one (01) deferred (650/17); and One (01) communication on admission. 11. The Commission held a closed meeting during which matters concerning the Commission of Inquiry on the Tigray Region of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia were discussed. 12. The Commission considered and adopted six (06) Resolutions, namely: i. Resolution on the protection of women against digital violence in Africa; ii. Resolution on the renewal of the mandate of the Committee for the Prevention of Torture in Africa and the appointment of its members; iii. Resolution on the renewal of the mandate of the Working Group on the Rights of Older People and Persons with Disabilities in Africa and the appointment of its Chairperson and Members; iv. Resolution on the adoption of the Rules to establish and operate the mechanism for alerting and reporting to the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights on situations of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (the Abidjan Rules); v. Resolution on the Renewal of the Mandate of the Commission of Inquiry on the situation in the Tigray Region of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia; and vi. Resolution on the Extension of the Mandate and Composition of the Special Mechanisms of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights. 13. These Resolutions will be made available on the Commission's website at www.achpr.org. 14. The Commission decided to hold its 73rd Ordinary Session from 20 October to 9 November 2022. Done on 2 August 2022

Created Aug 10, 2026 · Edited Aug 10, 2026