DOI participates at the 62nd Ordinary Session of the African Commission

The Dullah Omar Institute (DOI), University of the Western Cape, participated in the 62nd Ordinary Session of the African Commission, held inNouakchott, Mauritania, from 25th April to 9th May 2018. DOI’s Statement to the Commission centred on the need to empower National Human Rights Institutions in African States with the enabling environment and resources to engender the protection of Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights in Africa.

DOI, in conjunction with other partners- Initiative for Social and Economic Rights (ISER), the Global Coalition on Social Protection Floors and the Chairperson of the Working Group on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of the Commission- organised a Panel Session on Social Security as a Human Right Imperative. The panel session aimed to- create awareness among states and other stakeholders on the human rights importance of social protection measures; educate states and other stakeholders on the relevance of ILO Recommendation 202 on Social protection Floors in addressing poverty and inequality and; elicit debate on the provisions of the Draft Protocol to the African Charter on the Right to Social Security/Protection.

DOI also participated as a co-facilitator at a side event on ‘Maternal Health and Intersectionality: Women from Lower Socio-economic Status and Girls in Child Marriage’. The side event which was hosted in conjunction with Centre for Reproductive Rights, Amnesty International and Right Here Right Now, was a success and brought together a diverse audience, drawn from different organisations and countries.