AFRICA: Realizing Human Rights - A Key to Achieving Sustainable Peace

Representatives of embassies of AU member states, Regional Economic Communities, UN agencies, educational institutions, international organizations and AUC staff members, gathered today, Thursday 21, October 2010, at the African Union (AU) head quarters in Addis Abba, Ethiopia for this year's Commemoration of the African Human Rights Day under the theme: “realizing human rights: a key to achieving sustainable peace in Africa”. The theme is related to the fact this year is the Year of Peace and Security in Africa.

Speaking at the commemoration ceremony, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission Dr Jean Ping reminded the audience that it was through the concern that African leaders had over the challenges facing the continent, that the Organisation of African Unity decided to adopt instruments to ensure human rights. These instruments, he said, fulfill the Constitutive Act of the African Union. He also said the AU Commission's strategic plan calls for a coordinated action among all organs of the African Union on human rights and, in this respect, that the AU Commission is working closely with some United Nations agencies to develop a human rights strategy and governance architecture.

The Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights Commissioner Mrs. Reine Alapini-Gansou, was represented by Dr Mary Maboreke, who said the Commission had established several mechanisms to help promote and protect specific rights. “The African Commission… has established this year, a special mechanism on extractive industries, environment and human rights violations in Africa, and another special mechanism on human rights and HIV along with its other existing procedures”, she said. In view of the fact that several state parties to the African Charter this year celebrate their fiftieth anniversary of independence, the African Commission has already invited all stakeholders to meditation and to a frank and sincere dialogue about what has been achieved to ensure that human rights are effectively respected within families, communities, and in countries, she added.

The commemoration stressed the fact that ongoing humanitarian crises due to international or internal armed conflicts, whether owing to the scarcity or the abundance of national resources in a number of African countries, are serious obstacles to achieving sustainable peace and development in Africa. It noted with grave concern, the persistence of extreme poverty in some African countries, and high rates of HIV/AIDS infection, with many of the countries losing many of its people in the prime of their lives.

Speaking at the session, the Director of Political Affairs Mr. Emile Ognimba explained that today, October 21, 2010 marks the African Human Rights Day and is set aside by the African Union (AU) to commemorate the entry into force in 1986 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.

Dr. Robert Eko, the representative of the AfCHPR said, “Many conflicts are sparked by a failure to protect human rights, and the trauma that results from severe human rights violations often leads to new human rights violations.” He also said that, as conflict intensifies, hatred accumulates and makes restoration of peace more difficult. In order to stop this cycle of violence, states must institute policies aimed at human rights protection.

The occasion also witnessed artwork designed by African children and heard their stories about how they view the issue of human rights on the continent. 20 children received certificates, t shirts and caps from the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs Mrs Julia Joiner.