Mechanisms – At regional level
At the regional level, there are several protection mechanisms for HRDs, WHRDs and HRD children. In other words, these are Special Rapporteurs who, through their mandate, ensure the protection of defenders.
Honorable Commissioner Pr. Rémy Ngoy Lumbu
- President of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights;
- Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders;
- Focal point on reprisals in Africa and judicial independence.
Mandate: the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders has the mandate of, on the one hand, developing and recommending strategies aimed at better protecting human rights defenders and ensuring the follow-up of his recommendations; and on the other hand to raise awareness and promote the implementation of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders in Africa.
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- Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information
Honorable Commissioner Geereesha Topsy-Sonoo
- Analyzes media legislation, policies and practices of Member States
- Monitors compliance with the standards of freedom of expression in general and the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in particular, and provides advice to Member States in this regard;
- Undertake fact-finding missions to Member States where massive violations of the right to freedom of expression have been reported and make appropriate recommendations to the African Commission;
- Undertake missions within Member States and any other promotional activities that would strengthen the full enjoyment of the right to freedom of expression in Africa;
- Maintains an appropriate record of violations of the right to freedom of expression and includes it in its reports submitted to the African Commission, and;
- Submits reports to each ordinary session of the African Commission on the situation of the enjoyment of the right to freedom of expression in Africa.
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- Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information
Honorable Commissioner Janet Ramatoulie Sallah-Njie
The Special Rapporteur on Women’s Rights has the mandate to:
- Present and promote the guide and the Guidelines, share and discuss its content;
- Highlight the different international and regional standards and national best practices to ensure the protection and promotion of the rights of women human rights defenders.
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