Compendium of documents on National Human Rights Institutions in eastern and southern Africa

Edited by Charles M Fombad

2019

ISBN: 978-1-920538-95-8

Pages: 898

Print version: Available

Electronic version: Free PDF available

About the publication

Africa’s increasing recognition and protection of human rights have been accompanied by a surge in the number of NHRIs established with broad mandates to promote and protect human rights. The mandates and powers of the NHRIs vary from country to country, as does their ability to deliver on these mandates. Indeed, the rapid increase in the number of NHRIs in Africa has come with a variety of substantive and operational challenges. In the face of such challenges, those who work in NHRIs need to understand the broader regional and global context in which the institutions operate and the changing nature of human rights issues.

This compendium provides an overview of NHRIs in eastern and southern Africa. It is guided to a large extent by the internationally agreed-upon Principles Relating to the Status of National Institutions, referred to as the Paris Principles. These Principles are broadly accepted as the benchmark against which the legitimacy and credibility of NHRIs can be assessed. Endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993, the Paris Principles provide NHRIs with guidelines as to their competence and responsibilities, their composition and guarantees of independence and pluralism, and their methods of operation; additional principles relate to the status of commissions with quasi-jurisdictional competence.

The generous financial support of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Rule of Law for Sub-Saharan Africa, Nairobi, Kenya office, is gratefully acknowledged.

Table of Contents

PREFACE

INTRODUCTION

AN OVERVIEW OF NHRIS IN EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA

THE OMBUDSMAN OF ANGOLA

THE OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN IN BOTSWANA

THE BURUNDIAN INDEPENDENT NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO’S NATIONAL COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

6 PART B

THE SWAZILAND COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION INTEGRITY

THE ETHIOPIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

THE KENYA NATIONAL COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

THE LESOTHO HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

THE LESOTHO HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

THE NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF MAURITIUS

THE RWANDAN NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

THE SOUTH AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

THE TANZANIAN COMMISSION FORHUMAN RIGHTS AND GOOD GOVERNANCE

THE ZAMBIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

THE ZIMBABWE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS IN EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA: LESSONS AND PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE