afrol News, 24 November - The Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR), Salimata Sawadogo, has used the ongoing 40th extra-ordinary session of the commission to grill African governments for their lack of commitment to human rights obligations.

The issue of human rights in Africa, according to Ms Sawadogo, is not about the number of conventions, declarations or policies in place, but the practical application of the commitments stipulated.

"Since independence, African States have ratified several instruments aimed at the promotion and protection of human rights on the continent - both at sub-regional, regional and international level. On paper, the commitment of some African states to the protection of human rights is unmatched even by some western countries," she frankly stated.

She said it was a pity for the commission to continuously receive damning reports of human rights violations by African governments on restrictions of freedom of expression, assembly, association, torture and violations of the right to life.

Ms Sawadogo also raised concerns about conflicts occasioned by violations of human rights which continue to generate refugees and internally displaced person in Africa. During these conflicts, she said, the rights of vulnerable people - women, children and the aged are trampled upon with impunity.

After two decades of existence, the ACHPR Chairperson asked defenders of human rights to take stock of their work and put in place measures that would improve human rights in the continent.

"After two decades of existence, the commission should have a record to show to the African people" she stated. "We must ask ourselves what we have done to enhance the enjoyment of human rights on the continent," implicating little had happened.

She also confronted rights defenders to scrutinise state parties to the African charter on human rights as to whether they fulfil their human rights obligations. "As a national human rights NGO, you have to find out whether the state has submitted its periodic report as provided by article 62," she said, adding that human rights NGOs should enhance the promotion and protection of human rights in the countries they operate.

Most Africans see the Banjul-based commission as nothing short of closing its eyes to the gross violations of rights by African governments who bankroll it hence the saying: "he who pays the piper, calls for the tune." In a nutshell, it has lost confidence among ordinary Africans.

It has not openly criticised governments over their appalling human rights records, especially its host, The Gambia, where the rights of citizens continue to trample upon. For instance, when the commission was asked why it had not publicly damned The Gambia for shooting 14 innocent students who demonstrated in April 2000, ACHPR officials said they only address complaints that have been submitted by its NGO community.

Ms Sawadogo said she was despaired with human rights NGOs for not submitting their activity reports to the commission. She believed that they should sell the commission's activities to downtrodden Africans, who may not even know about the existence of it.

She nailed the coffin with an appeal to member states and the donor community to bail out the cash-strapped commission to realise its goals.

By Musa Saidykhan

© afrol News

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