EMDHR has recently participated in the Africa Human Rights Day Commemoration 2008. The commemoration took place in Banjul, the Gambia on 21 October 2007.

The African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (also called the Banjul Charter) was adopted by the OAU (now AU) in June 1981 and entered into force in October 1986. The African Charter is a pivotal human rights instrument of the OAU/AU. The African Charter recognizes individual as well as peoples' rights and duties of the individual. The African Charter is ratified by Eritrea in 1999 and it is thus an integral part of the body of Eritrean laws. The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (the monitoring body of the African Charter) was established in 1987. October 21 is the African Human Rights Day set by the OAU/AU to commemorate the entry into force of the African Charter. 

 

This year, the African Human Rights Day was colorfully celebrated in Banjul, the Gambia by the African Commission that also commemorated its 20th birth day. Thus numerous events were organized by the African Commission in the week before and were brought to heights in the African Human Rights Day. The events included seminars, conferences, various sporting activities and marches.

Mr. Simon M Weldehaimanot, a volunteer human rights officer and a friend of EMDHR participated in those events representing EMDHR. Gambian friends also took part in the events putting on EMDHR's noted T-shirt – bdho antsar atehasasbana. Our representative had sent us pictorial reports of the events a day after the events were over. We sincerely apologies for not publishing the report in time! We have had some technical problems with the photos.  

 EMDHR

Communications ManagementPretoria

13 December 2007