AU-EU HUMAN RIGHTS DIALOGUE JOINT COMMUNIQUE

1. The 13^th African Union (AU) - European Union (EU) Human Rights Dialogue took place on 31 October 2017 in Banjul, The Gambia.

1. The Dialogue was led by H.E. Amb. Minata Samate Cessouma, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, and H.E. Mr Stavros Lambrinidis, the EU Special Representative for Human Rights.

1. The AU participants included: Amb. Ajay Kumar Bramdeo, Head of AU Permanent Mission to the European Union: Hon. Pansy Tlakula, Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and other Commissioners namely: Me Reine Alapini Gansou, Prof. Remy Ngoy Lumbu, Mr. Lawrence Mute and Prof. Maya Fadel; Hon. Maria Mapani, Vice President of the African Committee on the rights and welfare of the Child; Mrs Bensaoula Chafiva, Judge at the African Court for Human and Peoples’ Rights and Hon. Elisabeth Fourn Gnansounon, member of the AU Advisory Board on Corruption and the staff of the African Union Commission and African Union Organs.

1. The EU delegation was composed of: Ms Brigitte Markussen, Deputy Managing Director Africa (EEAS); Ms Anna Burylo, Deputy Head of Mission, EU Delegation to the AU; Ms Mychelle Rieu, Advisor to the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Mr. Joaquin Tasso Vilallonga, Deputy Head of Division, Pan African Affairs (EEAS), Mr. Amador Sanchez Rico, Deputy Head of Division for Human Rights (EEAS) and both Brussels- and Addis Ababa-based EU staff working on human rights issues.

1. The Dialogue took place at a key moment for the partnership between Europe and Africa, marked by profound economic, political and societal changes that require stronger, deeper and more action-oriented strategic partnership. This was also a timely meeting coinciding with the 30^th anniversary of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) and ahead of the 5^th AU-EU Summit scheduled to be held in November 2017 in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire.

1. Both sides remained committed to the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms on both continents, as per the international and continental legal frameworks; they further expressed determination to strengthen their cooperation with a view to ensuring effective implementation of these instruments.

1. The AU and EU discussed recent developments in Africa and Europe in the area of human rights, notably the work of the AU organs with a human rights mandate and the implementation of the Action Plan of the Human and Peoples’ Rights Decade in Africa. The two sides envisage stepping up their efforts to deliver on their commitment to respect and to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms. The EU support the ongoing process of the drafting of the Human Rights Action Plan. Both sides look forward towards the adoption of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights guidelines on combatting sexual violence and its consequences.

1. Both parties also discussed the issue of ICC and agreed to enhance dialogue, including on complementarity at national, regional and international levels.

1. The AU acknowledged with appreciation the EU continuous support to the African Human Rights System, including the ongoing support to the core AU Human Rights Organs, to ensure that all AU Member States ratify, domesticate and implement the AU legal instruments in the field of good governance and human rights, under the EU Pan-African Programme.

1. On the Abolition of Death Penalty, both sides welcomed the efforts of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to introduce a Draft Protocol to the Charter on abolishing Death Penalty in Africa. The EU reiterated its readiness to support the AU efforts. In this regard, both sides referred to the importance of the Regional Congress against Death Penalty, which will take place in Côte d'Ivoire in April 2018 ahead of the World congress of 2019.

1. On Human Rights and Business, the two sides welcomed draft AU Policy Framework on Business and Human Rights for the Implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The AU expressed appreciation for the EU's valuable cooperation and partnership in finalising the draft Policy through continued consultations.

1. On the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, both sides welcomed the efforts of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to introduce a Protocol of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' rights on the rights of persons with disabilities in Africa. Both sides expressed the wish for the adoption of the Protocol. Both sides intend to organise a continental seminar to exchange good practices on promotion and protection of the rights of people with disabilities.

1. Both sides further welcomed the AU Declaration of 2017 on "Harnessing the Demographic Dividend through investments in the Youth". The EU committed its support to the AU efforts to ensure the promotion of youth rights and the youth participation in the political processes in Africa. To this effect, both parties agreed to include the youth issue on the agenda and to invite youth representatives to participate in the 2018 AU-EU Human Rights Dialogue.

1. Both parties note that investing in youth for a sustainable future will be the overarching theme of the upcoming 5^th AU-EU Summit next month in Abidjan. This carries with it the joint responsibility to give youth a proper space and voice, noting the statement issued on the occasion of the AU-EU Youth Forum of October 11^th 2017. The two sides agreed on the importance of streamlining Human Rights in all discussions concerning the Youth. 

1. The AU and the EU reiterated their firm commitment to fighting impunity at all levels and to ensure accountability and justice, placing specific emphases on the importance of reinforcing national judiciaries. The AU presented the development of the AU Transitional Justice Policy, which, once adopted, will enhance transitional justice, truth and reconciliation processes and mechanisms at national level. Both sides also welcomed the joint efforts to support the implementation of transitional justice process in Darfur, South Sudan and The Gambia.

1. Both sides acknowledged the deployment of human rights observers to monitor, document and report human rights and International humanitarian law violations and abuses in conflict situations. The AU expressed appreciation of the ongoing EU support for the AU Human Rights Observer mission in Burundi. Both sides committed to further work together to develop a robust roster for African Human Rights Observers as well as developing a training manual with a view to institutionalise the AU Human Rights Observation in the long run.

1. The AU and the EU reiterated their intention for enhanced cooperation and collaboration in the area of counterterrorism and human rights, notably on preventing violent extremism by identifying and addressing the drivers. Both sides envisage to continue exchanging best practices in this area.

1. The EU commended the efforts of the AU at ensuring universal ratification of AU Shared Values Instruments and committed to continue its support to achieve this noble goal. Both sides highlighted the importance of ratification, implementation and reporting on international and continental human rights instruments.

1. Both sides reiterated their continued cooperation in the area of election observation. The two sides envisage to further strengthen the methodology, including through strengthened coordination on the ground and mainstreaming human rights in the electoral process. Both sides expressed determination to foster dialogue on democratic governance and envisage to organise a joint high-level conference on electoral process, democracy and governance, with a particular focus on the role of the Youth.

1. On the creation of space of civil society, both sides reiterated their commitment to strengthen and secure an enabling environment for civil society, including to ensure their active participation at all levels, on both continents. In this respect, the EU welcomed the recent adoption of ACHPR’s Guidelines on Freedom of Association and assembly.

1. In the same vain, both parties welcomed the work and outcome of the 7^th AU-EU CSOs Seminar which focused on addressing in a comprehensive manner the elimination of torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment, a topic of mutual preoccupation for the EU and the AU. The Dialogue provided also the opportunity to discuss ways of further engagement with EU-AU Civil Society representatives whose work is valued by both sides.

1. The EU welcomed the information received on the AU Citizens Engagement Strategy to promote the rights of citizens’ participation in politics, for the Promotion of Democratic Governance and Human Rights in Africa.

1. The AU and the EU agreed to hold the next round of the Human Rights Dialogue in Europe in 2018.

 Banjul, 31 October 2017