CLOSING ADDRESS
BY
THE HONORABLE JUSTICE GERARD NIYUNGEKO,
PRESIDENT OF THE AFRICAN COURT ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS
AT
THE SENSITIZATION AND CONSULTATIVE SEMINAR FOR NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS IN AFRICA
16 – 18 NOVEMBER 2011
ARUSHA, TANZANIA
Distinguished Participants, Ladies and Gentlemen
- In the last three days, we have discussed and informed each other about the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights and about the National Human Rights Institutions. We have also discussed the practical relationship between the Court and the National Human Rights institutions, and have come up with a Plan of Action on how the National Human Rights Institutions should work on the promotion of the Court. We have indeed clarified the role, responsibility of each of the National Human Rights Institutions represented here on how to encourage its utilization to advance human rights protection in Africa.
- I am extremely pleased with the manner in which we conducted our business, and the degree to which we went to explore the practical ways that we can employ, in a symbiotic relationship of our different capacities, to ensure the promotion of the Court.
In this regard, I must thank you all for not only for having accepted our invitation, but also for your contributions.
I must also thank all the presenters for the insightful and profound ideas suggested in their presentations, and all the moderators for they way they all chaired the various sessions of this meeting.
I am again particularly thankful to your Network of African National Human Rights Institutions for the support you gave to this activity and for your willingness to consider how you can promote the Court and use your own mandates to ensure that the Court can effectively discharge it human rights protective mandate.
Distinguished Participants, Ladies and Gentlemen
- If this seminar has been a success, and we will surely see this by increased levels of awareness about the Court in your countries and consequently, the resultant inflow of submissions to the Court, that is entirely due to the diligent and professional manner in which you participated in lively and frank discussions in a most enriching manner.
- While this meeting has now come to an end, we take away with us, the satisfaction that our discussions were fruitful in both substance and context. I am convinced that more meetings will follow this one, and that we will continue to collaborate in our joint efforts to protect human rights in Africa. At the beginning of this seminar, I explained the objectives that underline it and the role that your organizations are expected to play in the promotional plan of the Court to ensure that it carries out its mandate. I particularly stressed your independence and statutory responsibility to maintain oversight over human rights observance in your countries and in that regard to ponder for posterity your particular input in ensuring that governments seek the advisory opinion of the Court on human rights and governance issues. I am therefore pleased to note that our discussions clearly show that all participants understand that the success or failure of the Court is our collective responsibility.
Distinguished Participants, Ladies and gentleman
- Allow me to extend my sincere thanks to our cooperating partner, the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), who has actively and strongly supported the promotional initiatives of the Court with the necessary funding. We look forward to their continued support as the program continues to unfold.
- I also wish to thank the Registry of the Court and the secretariat of the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions for the huge amount of work they put in to organize the seminar, arrange the programme, flight schedules, accommodation, and all the little administrative tasks necessary to ensure that our discussions were held in a conducive environment.
Distinguished Participants, Ladies and gentleman
- Last but not least, I wish to thank my fellow Judges of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights for their vision and insistence that we hold this seminar, and for making the sacrifice to extend their absence from their national duties, to participate fully at this event.
- Let me end by expressing the expectation of the Court that we will continue to meet and build on the relationship we established during this seminar. I wish you a safe journey back to your countries, where I believe, you will immediately work on strategies to promote the Court, advocate for ratification of the Protocol and the deposit of the special declaration as well encourage seizure of the Court with contentious cases or for advisory opinions. We look forward to your hospitality when our next sensitization activities bring us to your countries. May you all travel safely back to your destinations.
I declare this seminar closed.
African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights
19 November 2011
Arusha
