ACDHRS To Organise NGO Participation Forum

The African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS), in collaboration with the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR), both rights organisations based in The Gambia would soon organise the Forum on the Participation of NGOs in the 46th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights and the 20th African Human Rights Book Fair.

The event, which will attract over one hundred human rights activists from Africa and beyond will be held from 7th - 9th November, 2009, at the Kairaba Beach Hotel.

The objective of the forum which will precede the 46th Ordinary Session of the African Commission, also to be held in The Gambia from 11th-25th November, 2009, is to foster cooperation among and between NGOs, as well as with the African Commission, with the aim of promoting and protecting human rights in Africa.

The first theme on Overview of Human Rights Situation in Africa will examine the situation of human rights on the continent, as well as identify strategies in addressing emerging issues.

The second theme on Special Interest Groups will discuss, among others, issues relating to prevention and prohibition of torture in Africa, the situation of refugees and internally displaced persons in Africa, freedom of expression in Africa, the situation of women's rights, prisons and penal reform, rights of children, the death penalty in Africa, and elections in Africa.

The final theme will be on Networking for Human Rights which will look at updates on the Human Rights Council, as well as the Durban Review Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance and the development of a human rights strategy for Africa.

The African Centre's 20th African Human Rights Book Fair will run concurrently with the forum and the Commission's public session. The objective of the book fair is to give human rights NGOs the opportunity to share their materials with other NGOs, and to promote networking of human rights organisations on the continent and beyond.

Experts in the field of human rights and democracy on the continent will act as Resource Persons and Facilitators during the forum.

At the end of the three-day forum, resolutions and recommendations will be forwarded to the African Commission for consideration during the 46th session.