States only, and, therefore, appeals to those Member States that have not yet done so, to sign and/or ratify the Protocol to enable it to come into force by July 2003 as required by Dec. AHG/Dec.171 (XXXVIII). 27. Reiterates that the primary responsibility for the promotion and protection of human rights rests with Member States and, therefore, urges those Member States which have not yet done so, to establish independent national human rights institutions, provide them with adequate financial and other resources for their proper functioning, and guarantee their independence. 28. Recognizes the important role of civil society organizations (CSOs) in general and human rights defenders in particular, in the promotion and protection of human rights in Africa, calls upon Member States and regional institutions to protect them and encourage the participation of CSOs in decision-making processes with the aim of consolidating participatory democracy and sustainable development, and underscores the need for CSOs to be independent and transparent. 29. Recognizes the media as important vehicles for the realization of the right to information, and therefore, urges Member States to guarantee, through appropriate legislative and policy measures, a free and independent press. 30. Mindful of the fact that the legal norms contained in the international and regional human rights conventions and the establishment of human rights protection and promotion mechanisms cannot by themselves guarantee entrenchment of the principles of human rights and their observance by all, and appeals to Member States to make the teaching of human rights a permanent feature in their school curricula, especially for law enforcement agents. To this end, it calls upon Member States to step up their efforts with a view to a better and wider dissemination of the human rights culture, and urges them to popularize the international and regional conventions. 31. Calls for African solidarity with the peoples whose fundamental rights are grossly violated. 32. Welcomes the creation by the AU Assembly in Durban (South Africa) in July 2002, of a Portfolio within the AU Commission responsible for the issues of democracy, human rights, governance and civil society that would contribute to spearheading efforts aimed at promoting human rights on the Continent. 33. Recognizes that implementation, monitoring and evaluation are critical to the effective realization of the Grand Bay Declaration and this Declaration, requests the Chairperson of the AU Commission to coordinate the follow up of the implementation of these declarations and urges Members States to submit reports on implementation to the AU Commission. 34. Expresses its satisfaction at the holding of this Conference, requests the Chairperson of the AU Commission to submit a report to the next Ordinary Session of the Executive Council on the outcome of this Conference, and recommends that the Ministerial Conference on Human Rights be held at intervals of not more than four years. Adopted at Kigali, Rwanda on 8 May 2003