Thupeyo Muleya-Beitbridge Bureau
ZIMBABWE was among 39 African states that participated in the 89th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR)held in Dakar, Senegal, last month.
The session, held in accordance with Article 64(2) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, read together with Rule 27 of its Rules of Procedure (2020), had its private session online from September 21 to October 1, followed by the public session in person at the King Fahd International Conference Centre in Dakar from 12 to 21 October.
According to the final communiqué released at the end of the session that was chaired by the Chairperson of the Commission, Commissioner Idrissa Sow assisted by Vice-Chairperson Commissioner Hatem Essaiem.
The opening ceremony, according to the Communiqué, was officially opened by Senegal’s Minister of Justice Moussa Sarr on behalf of Senegal President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
“During the ceremony, several key statements were delivered by AU and international officials, including Ms Hannah Foster on behalf of the NGO Forum Steering Committee, Prof James Mouangue Kobila of NANHRI, and Mr Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African union Commission,” read part of the communique.
“A total of 1 662 participants took part in the Session who include185 representatives of 39 States Parties; 25 representatives of African union bodies; 85 representatives of international and intergovernmental organisations; 96 representatives of national human rights institutions; 957 representatives of African and international NGOs among others.”
Zimbabwe was represented at the State level, while the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) was among 14 NHRIs that made statements on the human rights situation in their respective countries.
Other NHRIs that presented included those from Algeria, Burundi, Egypt, Kenya, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa and Chad.
The ACHPR said during the private session, the Commission considered and adopted decisions on sixteen (16) communications: Eight (8) communications on the Merits; Seven (7) communications on Admissibility; and One (1) request for review of a decision on the Merits.
“The Commission also approved the referral of one communication to the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights in the context of its complementary relationship with the Court,” said the Commission.
It also adopted a thematic resolution on the biennial vote of the United Nations General Assembly calling for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty — an issue Zimbabwe has been seized with following the abolition of the death penalty in December 2024.
The Commission raised concern over delays by States in submitting periodic reports under Article 62 of the African Charter.
“It was noted that eight (8) countries are up to date; five (5) countries are at the examination stage; six (6) countries have one (1) report overdue; ten (10) countries have two (2) reports overdue; two (2) countries have three (3) reports overdue; eighteen (18) countries have more than three (3) reports overdue; and five (5) countries have not yet submitted their initial reports,” said the Commission
“The Commission also deliberated on five thematic panels, including Situation of Human Rights Defenders in West Africa, Advancing the Rights of Women and Girls in Africa, and The Impact of Water and Basic Sanitation on the Living Conditions of Detainees in African Prisons.
“In addition, the Commission took note of the report on budgetary and staff matters, including the implementation of programmes and the budget, recruitment, the Commission’s permanent headquarters, temporary replacement office premises, performance management, staff welfare and training.”
The Commission said it had welcomed the proposal by the Mozambican delegation to host the next ordinary public session in the first half of 2027.
