The two-week long 40th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR), which started on 15th November, will wrap up today at the Kairaba Hotel.

The session, which brought together member states’ delegates across Africa, Human Rights NGOs, Civil societies, local and international observers, dilated on cross- cutting human rights issues in Africa, emanating from reports presented.

Various reports presented unveiled continuous human rights violations in the region, especially in Sudan, Uganda, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and others, including The Gambia where the right to freedom of expression is reportedly being violated.

Amnesty International (AI) also submits that the practice of forced eviction has reached epidemic proportions in Africa, with 2,000,000, 1,800,000, and 700,000 evictions recorded in Nigeria, Sudan and Angola alone since 2000.

The AI also condemns the death penalty in all its forms.

Other issues raised include the fight against impunity, further needs for support to the AU peace mission in Darfur, minority rights, the situation of women in Africa, the practice of torture, access to the legal system, free and democratic elections, plights of human rights defenders, economic, social and cultural rights of indigenous populations, International humanitarian law, the issue of refugees and the fate of the African Court, and the ACHPR.

The special Rapporteur on freedom of expression in Africa, Madam Pansy Tlakula, in her presentation emphasized the need for member states to commit themselves to the Declaration of the principles on Freedom of Expression.