[wanabidii] African Human Rights Day: the Network of National NGO Platforms in West and Central Africa solemnly calls upon African nations to commit themselves to ratification of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Ri

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PRESS RELEASE

 

African Human Rights Day: the Network of National NGO Platforms in West and Central Africa solemnly calls upon African nations to commit themselves to ratification of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights

 

21 October is African Human Rights Day

 

DAKAR, Sénégal, October 18, 2013/ -- On the occasion of the African Human Rights Day on 21 October, the Network of National NGO Platforms in West and Central Africa solemnly calls upon African nations to commit themselves to ratification of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (OP-ICESCR).

 

Logo REPAOC: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/repaoc.jpg

 

Logo REPONGAC: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/repongac.jpg

 

After several decades of struggle, this Protocol was adopted in 2008 and came into force in May 2013. It marks a major step forward in guaranteeing people's dignity by ensuring that the economic, social, and cultural rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations in 1948 are "legally accountable".

 

A total of 45 countries across the world have already signed the Protocol, whilst it has been ratified by a total of 11 countries.

 

While African countries were on the vanguard of defending the emergence of this Protocol, the NGO coalitions of West Africa (REPAOC) (http://www.repaoc.org) and Central Africa (REPONGAC) (www.repongac.org) deplore the fact that no African Nation State has yet ratified it.

 

Since they were founded, REPAOC and REPONGAC have been fighting for the interests of African people and to advance their fundamental rights.

 

Consequently, the two networks have taken the decision to merge in order:

 

•          to call on African nations to unconditionally ratify the OP-ICESCR as soon as possible;

 

•          to urge African courts to incorporate and apply the provisions of this Protocol;

 

•          to launch a solemn appeal to everyone involved in African civil and political society to increase awareness in the wider community about the importance of this Protocol.

 

For further information about the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, click the following link: http://bit.ly/1eud5Ih.

 

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of the REPAOC - Réseau des Plates-formes d’ONG d’Afrique de l’Ouest et du Centre.

 

 

About the signatories

 

•          REPAOC is the network of national NGO platforms in West Africa (based in Dakar). It is located in 10 countries and represents over 800 NGOs. For further information: http://www.repaoc.org

Contact: Guy TETE BENISSAN, Regional coordinator, guy(at)repaoc.org

 

•          REPONGAC is the network of national NGO platforms in Central Africa (based in Kinshasa). It has members in 9 countries and groups together more than 1,200 NGOs. For further information: http://www.repongac.org

Contact: Robert MABALA, Regional coordinator, mabala(at)repongac.org

 

 

This release was drafted thanks to the financial assistance of the European Union and ACTED. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of REPONGAC and REPAOC and may under no circumstances be taken to reflect the views of the European Union and ACTED.

 

SOURCE 

REPAOC - Réseau des Plates-formes d’ONG d’Afrique de l’Ouest et du Centre

 

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