Call for Applications for the Nomination of Expert Members of the Working Group on Death Penalty, Extra-judicial, Summary or Arbitrary Killings and Enforced Disappearances in Africa @ African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission), through Resolution ACHPR/Res.79(XXXVIII)05 adopted at its 38th Ordinary Session held in Banjul, The Gambia, from 21 November to 5 December 2005, established the Working Group on Death Penalty in Africa (the Working Group).

By Resolution ACHPR/Res.227 (LII) 2012 and Resolution ACHPR/Res. 408 (LXIII) 2018 adopted at its 52nd and 63rd Ordinary Sessions respectively, the African Commission expanded the mandate of the Working Group to include extra-judicial, summary or arbitrary killings and enforced disappearances and changed the name of the Working Group to “Working Group on Death Penalty, Extra-judicial, Summary or Arbitrary Killings and Enforced Disappearances in Africa”.

The Working Group shall be composed of five experts representing the five regions of the continent taking into account linguistic and gender representation. Its mandate is as follows:
i. Setting standards and developing strategies for the better promotion and protection of human and peoples’ rights;

ii. Develop a Strategic Plan(s), including a practical and legal framework on the abolition of the death penalty;

iii. Collect information and monitor the situation of the application of the death penalty by States Parties to the African Charter;

iv. Monitor situations relating to extra-judicial, summary or arbitrary killings and enforced disappearances in Africa with all its ramifications;

v. Collect information and keep a database of reported instances of situations concerning extra-judicial, summary or arbitrary killings and enforced disappearances in Africa;

vi. Undertake, under the supervision of the Commission, studies on issues of relevance to death penalty, extra-judicial, summary or arbitrary killings and enforced disappearances in Africa;

vii. Advise the   Commission on urgent measures to be taken to address situations of execution of death sentences, extra-judicial, summary or arbitrary killings and enforced disappearances that require immediate attention;

viii. Respond effectively to information that comes before it, in particular when the execution of death penalty, extra-judicial, summary or arbitrary killing is imminent or when such killing has occurred;

ix. Develop a funding proposal with a view to raising funds to meet the cost of the work of the Working Group;

x. Submit an Intersession Activity Report at each Ordinary Session of the   Commission; and

xi. Collaborate with other partners, including States Parties, National Human Rights Institutions, relevant Intergovernmental Organisations, International and Regional Mechanisms and Civil Society Organisations for the successful implementation of its mandate.

The Working Group’s mandate also includes undertaking promotion missions to States Parties to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Charter), organizing sensitization seminars and training sessions, publishing reports and research findings, sending Letters of Urgent Appeals to States Parties to the African Charter on issues of human rights concern, and participating actively in national, regional and international meetings on, and activities related to issues of death penalty, extra-judicial, summary or arbitrary killings and enforced disappearances.

Pursuant to this mandate and Resolution ACHPR/Res.523(LXXII)2022 which brings the current term of office of the existing members to an end on 02 October 2022, the Working Group hereby invites nominations from interested candidates to serve as independent expert members of the Working Group.

Candidates must be nationals of a State Party to the African Charter and are required to have proven experience and expertise in human rights, in particular in the area of death penalty, extra-judicial, summary or arbitrary killings and enforced disappearances, knowledge of criminal law and public international law. The mandate of Working Group Members is for a period of two (2) years, renewable twice only.

Applications should be accompanied by a motivation letter, a detailed curriculum vitae and any other relevant document, and should be received at the Secretariat of the Commission no later than 14 October 2022. The Commission will appoint the new expert members of the Working Group during its 73rd Ordinary Session.

Applications should be sent by email to au-banjul@africa-union.org and africancommission@yahoo.com, or by courier to the following address:

African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights

31 Bijilo Annex Layout, Kombo North District, Western Region

P.O. Box 673 Banjul The Gambia