African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights have been subject to extensive consultations and expert review by State Parties to the African Charter, National Human Rights Institutions, and Civil Society Organisations across Africa. In addition to a consultation held on the margins of the 53rd Ordinary Session held in Banjul, The Gambia, 9 to 22 April 2013, the Commission also held regional consultations in Johannesburg, South Africa, for southern Africa; Nairobi, Kenya, for eastern Africa; Dakar, Senegal, for west and central Africa, and Tunis, Tunisia, for north Africa. I extend my sincere gratitude to the African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum, the Open Society Foundation’s Justice Initiative, and the United Nations Development Programme for the support provided during the consultation process. The success of the Guidelines in achieving a rights-based approach to pre-trial detention will be measured by the extent to which they are known and implemented by States Parties to the African Charter. I call on all stakeholders to use the Luanda Guidelines to inform their work in strengthening human rights protections in national criminal justice systems. Let us continue the dialogue at the continental, sub-regional and national levels as we share ideas and opportunities to promote a rights-based approach to arrest, police custody and pre-trial detention in Africa. Honourable Med SK Kaggwa Commissioner of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Special Rapporteur on Prisons and Conditions of Detention in Africa \05