The Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, takes pleasure in inviting you to our COVID-19 Discussion Fora. These discussions deal with the potential and actual impact on human rights and democratisation of COVID-19 in Africa. This Discussion Forum is part of a series of events at which the panelists are alumni of the academic programmes of the Centre. While these Fora had initially been targeting only the Centre’s staff and alumni, they are now public. The panelists of Forum 6 are all alumni of the Master’s in Human Rights and Democratisation Africa (HRDA).

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COVID-19 Discussion Forum 6

Thursday 28 May 2020
Webinar (Zoom)
11:00 – 12:30 SAST / 10:00 – 11:30 WAT / 12:00 – 13:30 EAT

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Theme: The response of the African Union’s Governance Architecture to COVID-19 

Exploring  adjustments and measures by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, the Pan-African Parliament and the African Peer Review Mechanism

Chair: Prof Frans Viljoen
Director, Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria

Panelists:

• Solomon Dersso (HRDA 2003)
  Chair, African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights 
  African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights: Its responses to COVID-19 
   
• Benyam Mezmur (HRDA 2005)
  Former Chairperson, and current Member, African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child
  African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child: Its responses to COVID-19  
   
• Mary Izobo (HRDA 2015)
  Former Acting Senior Legal Officer, African Peer Review Mechanism; Doctoral candidate, Centre for Human Rights
  African Peer Review Mechanism: Its responses to COVID-19  
   
• Clement Mavungu (HRDA 2006)
  Legal Counsel, Pan-African Parliament (to be confirmed) 
  Pan-African Parliament: Its responses to COVID-19

Background

COVID-19 not only presents challenges to governments (and individuals) around the world, but also to inter-governmental organisations. The World Health Organisation, for example, has been challenged in its operations by a reduction in funding by the USA; and has to respond in an ad hoc way as more information about the pandemic becomes available. COVID-19 not only presents challenges to governments (and individuals) around the world, but also to inter-governmental organisations. The World Health Organisation, for example, has been challenged in its operations by a reduction in funding by the USA; and has to respond in an ad hoc way as more information about the pandemic becomes available. 

The African Union is no different. One the one hand, working methods and ways of doing things had to be adjusted. On the other hand, new challenges arose that needed substantive engagement and measures directed at addressing COVID-19.  The AU organs and bodies making up the AU’s Governance Architecture are among those most relevant to contribute to addressing the pandemic and its broader societal impact and consequences. 

In this webinar, four constituent bodies of the AGA are examined: the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, the Pan-African Parliament and the African Peer Review Mechanism. Insiders to these bodies will be addressing and answering questions and respond to issues that the audience may raise.

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