By Arret Jatta
The African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR), 81st Ordinary Session opened on Thursday at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center, Bijilo.
In his opening remarks, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Dawda A. Jallow emphasized the importance of promoting and protecting human rights.
“The recent 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights highlights global commitments to human rights, which has significantly shaped international and regional human rights laws, including the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights,” he said.
He also noted that despite these frameworks, the world continues to witness a decline in human rights concerns.
“Countries across the Middle East, Ukraine, Myanmar, and Africa have led to mass displacement and suffering, challenging us to reaffirm the importance of human rights. For Africa, human rights are essential to socio-economic development, cultural identity, and the foundation for sustainable progress,” Hon. Minister highlighted.
He also recognized that respect for human rights is vital for democratic stability and development.
“Corruption, mismanagement, and political instability strike where human rights are ignored, and inequalities often stem from abuses such as gender discrimination and lack of access to basic services,” he added.
Madam Hanna Foster, the Executive Director of the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies also highlighted some of the findings of the study they conducted.
“It asserted that Africa remains a closed source as it continues to face serious human rights challenges characterized by conflict, insecurity, and violence, highlighting among others the rise in cases of violations of women’s rights, poverty, against ingenious groups, business, internal political strife, taking up of arms by rebels, execution, killings and to continue to bring hardships to the majority of our citizens of the affected countries,” she highlighted.
“The African Commission is urged to call on relevant States to observe their obligations and ensure that they nurture peace and stability and observe the limits of democracy,” she added.
In his opening remarks, ACHPR Chairperson, Commissioner Sidi Remy Ngoy Lunbu, emphasized the urgent need for collaboration in addressing the myriad human rights challenges facing African nations, particularly in the wake of climate change and political unrest.