About IWGIA47th session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, May 2010
The 47th session of the Africa Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), held in Banjul, The Gambia, 12-26 May 2010, was attended by 523 participants representing African State delegates, national human rights institutions, intergovernmental organizations as well as African and international NGOs. IWGIA facilitated the participation of 8 indigenous representatives.
Statements
The participations of indigenous representatives in the ACHPR sessions remain very important, as it contributes to raising all participants’ awareness of indigenous peoples’ human rights. Under the agenda item on the human rights situation in Africa, the following organizations made statement on indigenous’ human rights situation:
- IWGIA in collaboration with NGONET, Tanzania
- CAMV, DRC
- CEMIRIDE in relation with the Endorois Welfare Council, Kenya
- IPACC in relation with Tin Hinan, West Africa
- COPORWA, Rwanda
- Centre pour l’Environnement et le Développement, Cameroon
Examination of state reports
In conformity with article 62 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the periodic report of Cameroon 
and Rwanda were examined during the session.
IWGIA and other partner organizations also contribute with shadow reports that provide an alternative source of information and assist the ACHPR’s commissioners in asking substantiated critical questions on indigenous peoples during the constructive dialogue with the state and in the drafting of the concluding observations. A Shadow report has been prepared for Cameroon by Forest Peoples Programme, the Center for Environment and Development (CED) and the Réseau Recherches Actions Concertées Pygmées (RACOPY). Please find the report here
Please find here the concluding observations for Rwanda and Cameroon
Presentation of the Progress Report of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations / Communities
Commissioner Bitaye presented the Working Group’s report for the inter-session period between the 46th and the 47th session.
Adoption of country visit reports
The Country visit report from Rwanda was adopted by the ACHPR during its private session. The report will be published before the 48th session.