The Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity, meeting in its Thirtieth Ordinary Session in Tunis, Tunisia, from 13 to 15 June, 1994,
Considering the Seventh Annual Activity Report of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights presented by its Chairman Professor Isaac Nguema, in accordance with Article 54 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights,
Recalling that the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights entered into force on 21 October, 1986, and that 49 OAU Member States have already acceded to the Charter,
Recalling also that Article I of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights stipulates that States Parties shall recognize the rights, duties and freedoms enshrined in the Charter and shall undertake to adopt legislative or other measures to give effect to them,
Recalling further the entry into force on 12 May, 1994, of the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community which complements the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights,
Bearing in mind that the African Charter recognizes the right to development as a Human Right,
Aware of the need to strengthen the African mechanism for the promotion and protection of Human and Peoples' Rights,
Concerned by the situation obtaining in the area of Human and Peoples' Rights.
Finally recalling the provisions of Resolution AHG/Res. 227 (XXIX) Rev. I adopted at its Twenty-ninth Ordinary Session held in Cairo, Egypt, from 28-30 June, 1993:
1. Reaffirms the need for Member States to ensure respect for Human and Peoples' Rights and thereby further promote peace, stability and development in Africa;
2. Consequently Calls on States Parties to the Charter to take concrete measures towards the effective implementation of the provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights;
3. Reaffirms the relevance of all the provisions of resolution AHG/Res. 227 /XXIX) Rev. I and appeals to all the concerned parties and people to scrupulously conform to these provisions particularly those relating to endowing the African Commission with adequate resources to enable it accomplish its mission and to the submission of periodic reports by the States Parties;
4. Requests the OAU Secretary-General to convene a meeting of government experts to ponder in conjunction with the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights over the means to enhance the efficiency of the Commission in considering particularly the establishment of an African Court of Human and Peoples' Rights;
5. Congratulates the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights for having appointed its Vice-Chairman as Special Rapporteur on extra-judiciary, summary or arbitrary executions:
6. Calls upon the States Parties to the Charter to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur in carrying out his mandate.
7. Appeals to Member States to ratify the said Charter as early as possible if they have not yet done so;
8. Strongly encourages the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights to continue to pursue its activities aimed at promoting and protecting the rights recognized and guaranteed by the Charter;
9. Takes note with satisfaction of the Seventh Annual Activity Report of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights and authorizes its publication.
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