Press Release
November 23, 2021, Moroni, Union of Comoros. Exchanges between institutions and civil society on the rule of law, democracy and human rights.
In order to strengthen its capacities as well as those of youth and women's organizations, civil society and Comorian institutions on democracy, human rights and gender, the National Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms of the Union of the Comoros (NCHRF) has requested support from the Indian Ocean Regional Office of the International Organization of La Francophonie to conduct a series of training sessions on the state of human rights, gender and democracy in the Union of the Comoros. The main purpose of these trainings is to support the consolidation of the democratic process with an integrated and inclusive approach with civil society organizations, youth, women and state institutions.
To this end, on October 21, 2021, 25 leaders of the main civil society organizations, youth and women coming from 3 islands of the Union of Comoros, were trained on human rights and democracy. As a follow-up to this activity, and with a view to a meeting between institutions and civil society, two working sessions were facilitated by the NCHRF: one specific meeting with civil society organizations, and another with the institutions of the Union of Comoros. The objective of these meetings, which took place on November 9 and 10 respectively, was to allow these two categories of actors to be consulted on the challenges they perceive from a human rights perspective, as well as the operational recommendations they would like to propose, with a view to an exchange aimed at identifying common improvement perspectives.
Thus, on November 23, 2021, 24 actors from civil society and institutions of the Union of the Comoros met to exchange and prepare a common roadmap on the challenges and prospects for improvement regarding the rule of law, democracy and human rights.
With regard to civil and political rights, in particular, challenges and recommendations relating to the right to life, liberty and security of the person, as well as challenges and recommendations relating to the administration of justice, in particular impunity and the rule of law, and the improvement of conditions of detention were discussed. There were mentionned also the challenges related to fundamental freedoms and participation in public life, more specifically issues relating to the implementation of the Political Parties Act of 2014 or the conditions and procedures for detaining people. Challenges concerning economic, social and cultural rights, the right to education, the right of individuals and particular groups, were also the subject of exchanges between civil society and the institutions of the Union of Comoros.
Following this activity, a report will be drafted as well as a roadmap summarizing all the recommendations, and placed under the responsibility of the NCHRF for its implementation.
This workshop is part of the Project to support the development and consolidation of democracy and the rule of law in the Union of the Comoros, financed by the Regional Office of the International Organization of la Francophonie, and implemented by the European Center for Electoral Support (ECES) with its partner Earth Echo Communications.
