Human rights : Cotonou under the two ramps in February

Of 15 at 18 February 2024, the International Commission on Human Rights will hold for the first time in Cotonou its very first Pan-African International Conference on human rights on a theme that concerns Africa. “The deterioration of the human rights situation in Africa” is the theme of this meeting.

The political changes that have taken place in Africa in the political and social economic fields are at the origin of the conference which will also discuss questions of gender and children's rights.. It will mainly be a question of debates on the human rights situation across the continent.. Presentations, case studies and panels will feature at the Cotonou conference. Important resolutions are expected at the end of this first International Conference.. Among others, the establishment of a new fact-finding mission responsible for establishing the facts on the situation in the east of the DRC. The creation of a fact-finding mission on the root causes of alleged human rights violations in Africa, in general. Furthermore, the International Commission on Human Rights indicates that following the said conference, it will strengthen its technical cooperation and capacity building agenda with all African countries to support their judicial systems, their security forces and prison administrations. Likewise, in the DRC, an international expert will be mandated to identify and verify the obstacles to the implementation of the various peace agreements since the events in the east of the country. As well, will a resolution be adopted to provide technical assistance to national civil authorities in the DRC, in Mali, in Burkina Faso and Niger. Finally, the International Commission on Human Rights will set up sub-regional offices with all member states.

International law
In matters of international law, after Bertrand Kossi Sossou Gbèvidé, Country Director of the International Commission on Human Rights will also take significant measures. “A resolution will thus be adopted to fight against the rise of religious hatred” announces the Country Representative. This is because of the “alarming increase in premeditated and public acts of religious hatred which manifest themselves in the recurrent desecration whether of the Koran or the Bible in certain African countries” adds Bertrand Kossi Sossou Gbèvidé. Themes relating to the central role of care and the right to quality education for peace and tolerance will also be addressed.. The International Commission on Human Rights during this Pan-African international meeting will say “will have to set up a new working group on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas”. She will emphasize, “also the essential role of thematic special procedures and the Universal Periodic Review (EPU) as part of their work which will enable a constructive dialogue to be initiated”.
To preserve your reputation, members will comment on the continued and growing proliferation of mechanisms and procedures claiming to make “impartial” assessments of the human rights situation in certain States and which, in most cases, not only lack the necessary consent and participation of the States in question but also base their reports on sources that are sometimes partial or not very credible.

Several resolutions expected
An adoption by the International Commission on Human Rights on the various thematic resolutions adopted, that in particular on the right to food and adequate housing, as well as the right to a clean environment, healthy and sustainable will be implemented. Recognizing that no country is perfect, it will indicate that the African Union was open to dialogue and constructive criticism. To this end, to believe, Bertrand Kossi Sossou Gbèvidé, cooperation with mechanisms that will be dedicated to human rights is essential, specifying that the 27 members should extend a standing invitation to all representatives of the special procedures.
Note that the International Commission during the said conference will put in place country mechanisms to resolve human rights problems before being presented to the competent UN bodies..

Damien TOLOMISSI