ACHPR grants Observer Status to the NGO Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement - RFLD
Meeting in Banjul on May 03, 2023, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) granted observer status to the NGO Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement (RFLD), chaired by Mrs. AGUEH Dossi Sekonou Gloria.
The granting of observer status enables NGOs to participate directly in the Commission’s activities. Articles 75 and 76 of the Rules of Procedure of the African Commission ensure their participation in Commission sessions by requiring the Secretary of the Commission to inform all NGOs with observer status of the dates and agenda of the forthcoming session, at least four weeks before it takes place. These NGOs can then send delegates to attend the public meetings of the Commission and its subsidiary bodies. Their contributions may be made orally or in writing.
In addition to attending sessions, the Secretariat must send all NGOs with observer status documents such as the Final Communiqué of the sessions and any other relevant documents.
In addition, NGOs with observer status with the African Commission may submit “shadow reports” on the human rights situation in the countries within their field of action, in order to enrich the dialogue between the Commission and the representatives of States at the time of examination of the periodic reports submitted by governments.
The ACHPR has three main functions:
Protection of human and peoples’ rights.
Promotion of human rights.
Interpretation of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Charter).
In addition to its obligation to examine reports submitted by States and parallel reports submitted by CSOs concerning States’ compliance with the African Charter, the ACHPR is empowered to receive and examine communications, which are akin to complaints. Communications are the mechanism by which the ACHPR fulfils its function of protecting the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the African Charter.
