As coup d’etats and other unconstitutional means of seizing power persist in Africa, human right activists in West Africa have called for zero tolerance for coups and suchlike forms of changing government.

In a three-page communiqué read at the end of a three-day ECOWAS-sponsored consultative meeting of National Human Rights Institutions in West Africa recently held at Sun Beach, participants noted the progress made by West African countries in the promotion of human rights and commended the initiative of West African leaders in enacting the Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, 2001 with the commitment to adhere to the rule of law, transparency in governance, zero tolerance for coups and unconstitutional seizure of power, separation of powers, and the promotion of human rights through establishing independent national human rights institutions.

The meeting affirmed that the promotion and protection of human rights constitutes the minimum condition for the emergence of a democratic and decent society and a means of addressing the ranging problem of conflicts in the West African sub-region. It therefore urged a collective effort towards its full realization for the people of West Africa.

Meanwhile, at the end of a three-day ECOWAS-sponsored consultative meeting, participants resolved to effect the establishment of a network among national human rights institutions in West Africa.
The network, known as National Human Rights in West Africa, is to serve as a platform for strengthening the capacity of national human rights institutions to protect and promote human rights in the sub-region.

The network also aims, among others, to serve a platform for the exchange of ideas and experience; to encourage harmonization of legislation and policy framework pertaining to national human rights institutions and their work, to identify the capacity needs and gaps, with a view to addressing them; and to promote partnership with other stakeholders such as parliaments, civil society, professional groups, academics, in the promotion of human rights in the sub region; and to facilitate the creation of independent national human rights in West African countries where such do not exist.

The meeting urged ECOWAS member states to: put in place legislation and policies that would ensure the autonomy and efficient performance of national human rights institutions in West Africa in line with the Paris Principles and ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol; to pay particular attention to the issues of appointment and security of tenure of Commissioners, including protection against interference whilst in the discharge of their duties;
provide adequate funding to NHRIs to enable them carry out their functions effectively.

The Acting Solicitor-General, Dr. Henry Carrol, chaired the opening ceremony of the meeting.