International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL) and Nouvelles Alternatives pour le Développement Durable en Afrique (NADDAF), affiliated to IADL Organise
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
Co-organised by Collectif des Associations Contre l’Impunité au Togo (CACIT), WANEP Togo la Concertation Nationale de la Société Civile et l’Association Internationale des Etudiants Juristes (AIEJ Togo Chapter)
“Human Rights in the context of elections and democratisation 50 years after the UN Covenants on civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights”
20 – 21 April 2017 Lomé (Togo).
Introduction | Registration | Program | Hotel | Medical Information
Democracy is the type of government in which all citizens have the right to participate in the decisions that affect them. American President Abraham Lincoln described democracy as “government of the people, by the people, for the people” who hold and control power and benefits from Human Rights. Democracy is thus defined as sovereignty of the people.
Indeed, democracy is a form of governance that prescribes the respect for all rights granted to a people who freely choose their leaders by means of transparent and regular elections. The periodic organization of free, fair and transparent elections is a foundation of democracy and an acceptable means of facilitating the representation of peoples and the participation of citizens in the management of public affairs. Respect for the rule of law, fair justice and sovereignty of peoples are also elements of democracy. Fifty (50) years after the signing of the ICCPR and the ICESCR, IADL there remain problems of taking human rights into account in this democratic process initiated in African countries at the beginning of 90’s.
To this end, it organizes an international conference with its member association in Togo on the theme: “Human rights in the context of elections and democratization in Africa 50 years after the signing of the two United Nations Covenants (ICCPR and ICESCR).”
DATE 20-21 April 2017
VENUE Université de Lomé (Togo). Institut Confucius et la Faculté de Droit de l’Université de Lomé. Adress B.P. 1515 Lomé-TOGO Bld Gnassingbé Eyadema TOGO. www.univ-lome.tg/
Participants must register using the online form that can be found under the link hereafter
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc26gUfpoVeF3fuLQAGlh_-69tljuu9IdaGHwA2oWTDcFBkuQ/viewform
DAY 1: 20 April 2017
10.00-13.00: Registration
14.00-15.00: Opening session
Jeanne Mirer, IADL President, Bernard BOKODJIN, NADDAF Coordinator, Spéro MAHULE, President CACIT, Nora NOVIEKOU, Coordinator WANEP Togo, Mr WOLOU Komi, Dean of the Faculty of Law of the University of Lomé.
15.00-15.30: Coffee Break and Press conference
15.30- 17.30: Inaugural conference.
Panel with national and international speakers
Day 2: 21 April 2017
08.30-10.00: Meeting in commissions.
Commission 1: Peace and democratic process: what challenges for the consolidation of African States?
- Economic, social and cultural rights in connection with the consolidation of peace.
- Management of natural resources and conflict in countries on the road of democratisation
- instability of democratic processes in African States: what responsibility of foreign powers?
Commission 2: “Rule of Law and peoples sovereignty in the context of elections”
- Elections management bodies: What credit for transparent and fair electoral processes? Africa: challenges and issues.
- Observation missions to electoral processes: what added value of accredited observers?
- Respect for the right to vote: between popular uprisings and post electoral claims, what lessons to learn?
- Freedom of expression: drift or muzzling of the media during elections.
Commission 3: “How to give effective support to victims of human rights violations to consolidate the democratic process?”
- Collaboration North / South, what type of partnership for the support of victims of torture? Sharing of experience.
- Access to justice
- redress for victims
- guarantees of non-repetition
10.00-10.30: Coffee Break
10.30-13.30: Continuation Commissions
13.30-15.00: Lunch Break
15.00-16.00: Summary of committee work.
16.00-17.30: Closing Panel
17.30-17.45: Closing of the conference.
For travel to Togo, vaccinations for Yellow Fever and Typhoid are required.