The African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights, ACHPR, has called on state parties to ensure that the use of force by Law Enforcement and Public Security Forces is consistent with the principles of legality and does not endanger human life.
The commission made the call during its 31st Extraordinary Session which held virtually.
The commission also tasked state parties to provide for “the absolute prohibition against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and declare that: all “options such as “necessity”, “national emergency”, “public order” shall not be invoked as a justification of torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
The commission also stressed that “measures adopted by State Parties meet the minimum standards for the protection of human rights and are accompanied by policy measures adopted in order to mitigate negative effects, particularly in the most vulnerable sector of society, and that Law Enforcement Officers are given strict guidelines for operations in emergency situations and that, allegations of violations are investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice.”
The commission reiterated the need for state parties to provide “appropriate equipment for the Law Enforcement Officers while providing those whose rights have been violated by Law Enforcement Officers, access to remedial measures, including legal assistance, reparations and compensation; and guarantee the fundamental rights of its citizens.”