The African Commission condemns the human rights violations committed in Togo and calls for impartial, independent investigations

09/05/2018

Impact

Impacts

en fr

At its 62nd ordinary session (25 April-5 May 2018) held in Nouakchott, Mauritania, the African Commission for Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) adopted a resolution on the situation in Togo. In this resolution, the Commission expressed deep concern about the deterioration of the human rights situation in the country, following the demonstrations calling for constitutional and institutional reforms in August 2017. Despite the efforts of ECOWAS to find a peaceful solution to the present crisis, the people of Togo are still subjected to acts of violence, the disproportionate use of force during demonstrations and violations of their freedom of speech, opinion, the right to demonstrate and of movement.

Since August 2017 FIDH and LTDH, its member organisation in Togo, have been constantly denouncing https://www.fidh.org/fr/regions/afrique/togo/eviter-de-nouvelles-violences-et-garantir-le-droit-de-manifestation the many acts of violence being committed, the repression of peaceful demonstrators and political dissenters, and the arbitrary arrests and detentions. The Commission’s adoption of this resolution is the result of the intense advocacy work of our organisations, and fits in with the LTDH recommendations made in its recent report in calling for “impartial and independent investigations in order to identify the alleged perpetrators of these violations so that they will be judged before the law.”

FIDH and LTDH urge the ACHPR to work harder on the situation in Togo in order to implement this resolution. This includes the decision to undertake a general human rights promotion mission in Togo.