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Protectors or Pretenders? - Government Human Rights Commissions in Africa, HRW Report 2001

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Overview

Summary

International Standards: The Paris Principles

Important Factors

Examining the Record in Africa

Innovative and Positive Contributions by Commissions

Regional Iniatives

The Role Of The International Community

Conclusion

Recommendations

Abbreviations

Acknowledgements




Funding

Members of the CBDH say that its work has been severely hampered by a lack of funds. As a matter of principle, the CBDH refuses to accept government subsidies,44 although in the early 1990s, it was so impoverished that it requested financial assistance from the transitional administration of Nicephore Soglo, but unsuccessfully as there was no budget provision for the CBDH.45 In 1991, the CBDH received, more than U.S.$60,000 from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), a U.S. foundation, for its civic education programs, election monitoring, human rights observing, and administrative expenses. However, in 1993, NED requested arefund of unspent grant funds and subsequently decided not to provide further funding due to what it considered the CBDH's inactivity.46 In 1997, however, the CBDH received funding from UNDP for a three-year program on the "promotion of human rights and the consolidation of the rule of law."47

Human Rights Watch World Report 2001

Africa: Current Events Focus Pages

The Latest News - Archive

Countries


Benin

Cameroon

Chad

Ghana

Kenya

Liberia

Malawi

Mauritania

Nigeria

Rwanda

Senegal

Sierra Leone

South Africa

Sudan

Togo

Uganda

Zambia


Campaigns



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Human Rights Watch