56.
States should speed up the process of adopting the Maputo Protocol and the Guidelines and Resolutions
on Women Rights Defenders; and
57.
States should specifically adopt laws that protect ‘Women Rights Defenders’ and create a conducive
environment for them to carry out their work.
J. Older Persons and Persons with Disabilities:
58.
States should mainstream and integrate older persons’ rights into all laws, policies, plans and programmes,
and include older women in policy and decision-making processes;
59.
States should introduce holistic and sustainable approaches to address the economic challenges of older
women, including but not limited to, the development of social security schemes for older women;
60.
States should ratify the Protocol on the Rights of Older Persons, to enhance the protection of older persons,
and older women in particular;
61.
The AU should expedite the process of adopting the draft Protocol on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
in Africa; and
62.
All stakeholders should systematically integrate the issue of accessibility into any policy, programme, project
or legislation related to persons with disabilities, as it remains the key challenge in addressing the plight of
persons with disabilities, and women with disabilities in particular.
K. Death Penalty and Extra-judicial, Summary or Arbitrary Killings in Africa:
63.
States should observe a moratorium on the death penalty and work towards its abolition in law altogether;
and
64.
States should review the measures in place, or that are being undertaken, to combat extra-judicial killings to
include domestic violence and all other forms of violence that result in the death of women, including scaling
up awareness of its population on the need for the legal abolition of the death penalty through the use of
indigenous approaches that are in consonance with human rights standards and principles, amongst others.
CONCERNING Human rights in Conflict Situations, the African Commission declares the following:
65.
States should give regard to the gendered nature of conflicts in Africa and the disproportionate impact of
conflicts on women and children;
66.
The AU and affected States should ensure the representation of women and participation of CSOs in
mediation and other peace processes;
67.
The African Commission should intensify its use of the process provided in Article 58 of the African Charter
to facilitate implementation of Resolution 332 on Human Rights in Conflict Situations (ACHPR/Res. 332
(EXT.OS/XIX.2016), having due regard to the varied impact of conflicts on various sections of society and
the importance of the application of international humanitarian law (IHL) rules;
68.
The African Commission should follow up on reports of fact-finding and investigation missions, in order to
mobilize political action and ensure implementation of recommendations of such reports; and
69.
The AU and its Organs should ensure enhanced cooperation and coordination, among AU Organs, of efforts
in response to armed conflict, with particular attention to the role of the African Commission and its
relationship with the Peace and Security Council.
CONCERNING the Youth in Africa, the African Commission declares: