Banjul (Gambia), Oct 22, MNN – The Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Mr. Joseph Whittal has entreated a right-to-development approach in the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He said AfCFTA must also focus on the vulnerable and minority groups who are likely to be disproportionately impacted by the liberalization of trade if no human rights safeguards are executed.
Mr. Whittal said this at a two-day meeting of Human Rights Experts and stakeholders’ forum to discuss issues relating to trade and human rights in the (AFCFTA) Agreement at Banjul, the Gambia which was monitored by the Myliberty News Network (MNN).
The meeting, being the 5th National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) forum was organized by the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI).
It was in collaboration with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) at the core of the ACHPR public ordinary sessions.
It was on the theme; “Inclusive Implementation of the AfCFTA with Participation of Vulnerable Populations”.
It aimed at providing a platform for the African NHRIs, the ACHPR, the OHCHR, as well as the international human rights mechanisms, and other key stakeholders to deliberate on issues with respect to human rights and proper practices on inclusion and participation of the vulnerable population.
The programme which comprised of expert presentations, panel discussions, and plenary sessions provided opportunities for NHRIs to discuss and make recommendations on thematic human rights issues.
It also created a platform to exchange experiences on participants’ efforts in supporting the work of the ACHPR in promoting and protecting human rights and collective (people’s) rights in Africa.
Prominent issues that featured at the discussion sessions included among other things, the background, status of ratification, negotiations, and implementation of the AfCFTA; a practical linkage between trade, development, and human rights; gains, opportunities, gaps, and potential risks for vulnerable populations with regards to the execution of the AfCFTA agreement.
The meeting climaxed on the resolutions on integrating human rights and the right to development, as well as equipping NHRIs with technical expertise in protecting vulnerable and marginalized groups in the implementation of the AfCFTA to be presented to the ACHPR for consideration at the 73rd Ordinary Session.
Participating at the forum were key stakeholders, including representatives of the NHRIs, the ACHPR, the AfCFTA Secretariat, State Representatives, Representatives of African Regional Treaty Bodies, relevant United Nations (UN) Agencies, Civil Society Organizations, Academic Institutions, and Development Partners.
Source: MNN
