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Celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Africa Charter on Human and
People's Rights - Africa Human Rights Day
Zimbabwe Human
Rights NGO Forum
October 21, 2011
Africa celebrates
the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the African
Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (African Charter)
on 21 October. The African Charter was adopted on 21 June 1981 and
came into force on 21 October 1986. The African Commission on Human
and People's Rights was established under the African Charter
in 1987 "to promote human and peoples' rights and ensure
their protection in Africa." The Charter forms the basis of
the African human rights system.
The theme for
this year's commemoration is "Celebrating the 30th Anniversary
of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights".
In marking this day, we as Africans ought to reflect on and recommit
ourselves to the solemn undertaking by African leaders endorsed
by the African peoples to promote and safeguard human rights by
"taking into account the importance traditionally attached
to these rights and freedoms in Africa."
In doing so,
we cherish the realization and acceptance by Africans that human
rights are not external to our value systems, but form the core
of our concept of humanity. We acknowledge and commend the vision
of African leaders in crafting our own African human rights system
that is compatible with our socio-political and cultural circumstances
as well as our ideals and aspirations.
The protection
of the inviolability of human dignity is the ultimate aim of the
concept of human rights. Great strides have been made in the protection
of human rights, as witnessed by the enactment of several legal
instruments. These include the African Charter, the Protocol to
the African Charter on Human and People's Rights on the Rights
of Women in Africa, the Declaration of the Principles on Freedom
of Expression in Africa and the African Charter on the Rights and
Welfare of the Child among others. The establishment of the African
Court is also an important achievement in the protection of human
rights.
Despite the
achievements by the African Commission in the advancement of democracy,
good governance and the promotion and protection of human rights,
major challenges remain. The continent has been bedeviled by political
violence, armed conflict, poverty, underdevelopment, disease, corruption
and poor leadership, which have all contributed to human rights
violations.
On this memorable
day, the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum implores the Government
of Zimbabwe and its people to revisit and abide by the principles
expounded by the founders of the African Charter, which stipulates,
"freedom, equality, justice and dignity are essential objectives
for the achievement of the legitimate aspirations of the African
people."
Visit the Zimbabwe
Human Rights NGO Forum fact
sheet
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