NGO Forum at ACHPR

As is traditional, the African Centre will host the 43rd Forum on the participation of NGOs in the Ordinary session of the African Commission. The forum will deliberate generally on the human rights situation in Africa in general and attempt to bring to the fore specific situations that need to be highlighted in order to attract the attention of the African Commission in particular and the international community and other concerned bodies.

Pour des informations en français sur le Forum des ONGs de la Commission Africaine des Droits de L’Homme et des Peuples: Brochure_-_NGO_Forum-French.doc

The African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS) is an independent non-governmental pan-African organisation, established in The Gambia since 1989. Since its inception, the Centre has been playing a central role in promoting and protecting human rights and democracy in Africa, through the media of capacity building, networking, action-oriented research, publication and documentation.

The Forum on the Participation of NGOs in the Ordinary Sessions of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights is one of the main advocacy tools that the Centre uses to promote networking among Human Rights NGOs, for the promotion and protection of human rights in Africa. Between 1990 and 1994, ACDHRS collaborated with the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ, Switzerland), in facilitating the participation of civil society organizations, academicians and other professionals from Africa and beyond in the African Commission’s sessions. However, since April 2000 the ACDHRS has facilitated the participation of NGOs and individuals in the Sessions, in collaboration with the African Commission and other human rights organizations working for Africa.

The last Forum held in Congo, Brazzaville in November, 2007 was a resounding success with 150 participants, coming from civil society organization and NGOs in Africa and beyond, inter-state organizations, the academia, and so on.

As is traditional, the African Centre will host the 43rd Forum on the participation of NGOs in the Ordinary session of the African Commission. The forum will deliberate generally on the human rights situation in Africa in general and attempt to bring to the fore specific situations that need to be highlighted in order to attract the attention of the African Commission in particular and the international community and other concerned bodies.

The ACDHRS will also organize the 17th African Human Rights Book Fair during the Forum and the public sessions of the Commission, to enable NGOs network and initiate or renew, the exchange of materials and information, as well as to publicize their activities.

Other highlights of this session will include a panel discussion on the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR) as well as the launching of Justice Hassan Jallow’s publication entitled: Law of the African Charter.

Objectives
The main objectives of the Forum are:
-:to foster closer collaboration and co-operation among NGOs, and with the African Commission for promotion and protection human rights in Africa
- to provide a discussion platform for organizations working on democracy and human rights issues in the continent.
-to promote inter-regional/organizational networking for the implementation of decisions of the Forum as contained in the ACHPR Communiqué

Language
The Forum will be conducted in both English and French with simultaneous interpretation.

Participation
All participants to the Forum are expected to meet the full cost of their participation, including a registration fee of US$100 (one hundred United States Dollars) or its equivalent in South African Rands or Swazi Emalangeni. Please note that this amount is subsidised by the African Centre to meet the cost of tea or coffee breaks, lunch, documentation, stationery and other administrative logistics for the duration of the Forum only. Furthermore, note that the said amount should be paid in cash at the registration desk on 3rd May, 2008.

Due to the fluctuation of the US Dollars, the cost of participation will be reviewed for the November, 2008 NGO Forum.

Resource Persons
Resource persons for the Forum are usually eminent activists and experts dealing with democracy and human rights issues in Africa.

Place and Duration of the Forum
As usual, the three-day Forum would take place from the 3rd -5th May, 2008 in Ezulwini, Kingdom of Swaziland while the Sessions of the African Commission would hold from 7th May, 2008.

Book Fair
Display of publications at the Book Fair is encouraged for greater participation at the Forum. We encourage participants to hand carry publications and send in bibliographies by email to / latest 30th April 2008.

Further information will be communicated to interested individuals and organizations upon receipt of the reply form.

Agenda
The following topics are proposed as the main themes for discussion at the NGO Forum:
1. Update on the Human Rights Situation in Africa
2. The Final Communiqué of the 42nd Ordinary Session of the African Commission and matters arising
3. Update on the Protocol on Women’s Rights in Africa & the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa
4. The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights
5. Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
6. International Humanitarian Law
7. Human Rights Defenders in Africa
8. Elections in Africa: the missing link
9. 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
10. Minority and Indigenous Peoples Rights
11. Illegal migration syndrome – the way forward

Suggestions to the Agenda are welcome. But please note that any proposal (s) to include a new theme / topic to the afore-said agenda should take cognizance of the fact that the NGO Forum Agenda is determined by the agenda of the proceedings of the African Commission Session. Furthermore, proposals by organizations or individuals must be accompanied by proposed names of resource persons and an expression of their willingness to support their participation in the Forum, if necessary, as well as to provide the relevant documentation needed to facilitate the presentations on the given theme / topic.

Visa
We would wish to encourage participants to make necessary visa arrangements where required before departing from their respective countries for Swaziland. Kindly note that a South African visa would be required as participants would need to transit in South Africa before proceeding to the Kingdom of Swaziland. The African Centre could assist in making arrangements for visas to be issued on arrival to participants who do not have Embassies, Consulates or High Commissions in their countries.

The Centre would require the passport details of such participants in time for forwarding to the relevant Government department. Please note that a fee may be charged, which will be communicated to participants.

Accommodation
With regards to accommodation, the African Centre could make arrangements for group rates on behalf of participants, at their request, provided the relevant information is received in time. The information on hotels will be provided to potential participants.

Application Deadline
All those wishing to participate in the Forum must complete the attached reply form and return it to the African Centre no later than Friday, 18th April 2008 by either Fax on: 00 220-4462338/9 or email: / / , / in order to facilitate administrative and logistic arrangements.

You are kindly encouraged to disseminate this information brochure to their network members as widely as possible.

For more information on the NGO Forum: NGO_Forum_Brochure-May,_2008.doc
To register for the NGO Forum: Reply_form.doc

<< Back to main