Protectors or Pretenders? : Government Human Rights Commission in Africa

A rapid growth in government-sponsored human rights commissions across Africa has not generally led to better human rights protection, Human Rights Watch charged in a major new study.

Half the countries in Africa now have such commissions, while only one country (Togo) did in 1989.

However, many of the commissions appear designed to deflect international criticism of human rights abuses rather than to address the abuses themselves.

The commissions in Ghana, South Africa and Uganda, however, are exceptions to the general trend.

After providing initial expertise and funding, donors often do not follow through to make sure government human rights commissions actually do something to protect victims and combat human rights abuse. "African governments are jumping on the human rights bandwagon, but they don't seem truly interested in helping victims," said Peter Takirambudde, Executive Director of the Africa division of Human Rights Watch. "Many of these government human rights commissions are weak.

The U.N. and international funders must not give legitimacy to commissions that serve merely as window dressing."Many commissioners Fall to publicly denounce abuses, either from fear of retribution, or out of hope of government favour.

This is the case in Camoroon, Chad, Kenya, Liberia, and Sudan.

In some places, such as Algeria, Togo, and Tunisia, commissioners downplay their government's abuses.

Others are careful to avoid comment on politically sensitive violations, as in Nigeria under military rule. And several have yet to fully establish themselves due to legislative problems, delays in appointing staff, or lack of funding. "Millions of Africans are being displaced, tortured, or killed," said Binaifer Nowrojee, primary author of the report and counsel with the Africa division of Human Rights Watch. "Yet the sad truth is that human rights commissioners in Africa often turn a blind eye to these abuses."