Pambazuka News Special Issue: Africa’s Long Road to Rights

Firoze Manji (Pambazuka News)-This week, Pambazuka News launches a special issue- Africa’s Long Road to Rights: Reflections on the 20th anniversary of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

This year marks the 21st anniversary of the entry into force, in October 1986, of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights – adopted on 27 June 1981 in Nairobi, Kenya by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), predecessor to the African Union. The charter is hailed by some for its recognition of the indivisibility of civil and political rights, and economic, social and cultural rights – making it distinct from other international human rights treaties – and for being the first human rights treaty to refer to the right to development. The 20th anniversary of the establishment of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights should therefore be not only a moment for celebration, but also for reflection on the achievements as well as the limitations of the charter and its implementation.

Despite the rhetoric about the primacy of human rights, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has too often failed to deal effectively with gross human rights violations, including the genocide in Rwanda and widespread human rights violations in civil wars across the continent, leading to millions of lives lost in Sierra Leone, Liberia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, to say nothing about the escalating crisis in Darfur. Nevertheless, there is little doubt that it has made significant progress during the last 20 years despite the many obstacles it has faced, not least of which has been the lack of political will on the part of African states and the grossly inadequate resources it has available to carry out its work.

The essays in this book review the achievements of the commission since its establishment. In her introductory essay, Hakima Abbas provides an overview of the long road to human rights in Africa. Korir Sing’Oei Abraham considers the opposition to the adoption of rights for ‘indigenous people’, and Roselynn Musa celebrates the achievements in women’s rights which have been driven by the organised African women’s movement, while bemoaning the lack of political will of governments to ensure gender equality. Mireille Affa’a Mindzie focuses on the achievements in the rights of the child, but says that much more needs to be done to improve the participation of young people in development and peacebuilding. Hakima Abbas interviews Commissioner Bahame Tom Mukirya Nyanduga, Special Rapporteur on Refugees and Displaced Persons in Africa and Commissioner Faith Pansy Tlakula, Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression in Africa about the challenges they have faced. Finally, the case study of Zimbabwe, presented by Otto Saki, provides an example of the flaws and the achievements of Africa’s own system for defending its citizens’ human rights against attacks from their own governments.

The purpose of this book, which accompanies a special issue of Pambazuka News (see page 81) on the topic, is not only to mark the 20th anniversary, but also to popularise understanding of the work of the commission. Engagement by civil society organisations with the commission is vital if it is to be effective and if its power to contend with the culture of impunity is to be extended.

The essays in this special issue can be found at the following links:

Africa’s long road to rights
Hakima Abbas
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/44412

Refugees and displaced people in Africa
An interview with the special rapporteur on refugees and displaced persons in Africa
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/44419

Freedom of expression in Africa
Interview with special rapporteur on freedom of expression in Africa
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/44418

Celebrating minor victories? Zimbabwe at the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
Otto Saki
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/44417

Regional protection of child rights in Africa
Mireille Affa’a Mindzie
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/44416

Women, equality and the African human rights system
Roselynn Musa
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/44415

The rights of indigenous peoples in Africa
Korir Sing’Oei Abraham
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/44413

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