Banjul Declaration of the 59th Ordinary Session of the
African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
under the theme “Women’s Rights: Our Collective
Responsibility”
Contents
BANJUL DECLARATION OF THE 59TH ORDINARY SESSION OF THE AFRICAN COMMISSION ON
HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS UNDER THE THEME “WOMEN’S RIGHTS: OUR COLLECTIVE
RESPONSIBILITY”
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Commission), having convened a
series of commemorative activities for the African Year of Human Rights with Particular Focus on the
Rights of Women in Africa during its 59th Ordinary Session, which was held from 21 October to 4
November, 2016 in Banjul, The Gambia;
Affirming that the African Union (AU) has established human rights instruments to promote and protect
human rights on the continent, including amongst others: the AU Constitutive Act; the African Charter on
Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Charter); the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and
Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (the Maputo Protocol); the African Charter on the Rights
and Welfare of the Child; the African Youth Charter; and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and
Governance;
Recalling the AU Agenda 2063, in particular Aspiration Number 3, which calls for “An Africa of good
governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law”; and Aspiration Number 6
which calls for “An Africa where development is people-driven, unleashing the potential of its women and
youth”;
Further recalling the decision of the Executive Council of the African Union to “… declare 2016 as African
Year of Human Rights with Particular Focus on the Rights of Women” through decision
EX.CL/Dec.842(XXV) which was adopted during its 25th Ordinary Session, held from 20 to 24 June 2014,
in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea;
Recognizing that the African Year of Human Rights, with Particular Focus on the Rights of Women in
Africa provides a unique opportunity to reaffirm commitment to the promotion and protection of human and
peoples’ rights in general and the rights of women in particular;
Having convened the following interactive panel discussions: a Human Rights dialogue to consider how
to strengthen AU institutions, including through improving the rate of compliance of decisions of the African
Commission and the African Court; interactive sessions of the respective Special Mechanisms of the African
Commission to deliberate on issues relating to their thematic areas and the impact on women; and a Youth
Panel to discuss participation of the youth in policy and decision-making, adoption of the African Youth
Decade and ratification of the African Youth Charter;
Commending the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Court), the Committee of
Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (the Committee), the AU Department of Political Affairs,