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

Togo








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




Origin and Mandate

    Togo has been under the dominance of a single ruler, Gnassingbe Eyadema, since 1967, when he came to power in a military coup. A single party, the Rassemblement du Peuple Togolais [Togolese Peoples' Rally] (RPT) ruled Togo during most of the past 30 years. Independent political parties were authorized in 1991. But President Eyadema used his control over the security forces, first, to prevent the elected government from asserting power and, then, to undermine multiparty elections. The most recent election process, in 1998, was seriously flawed, leading to an opposition boycott and the continued suspension of almost all foreign aid.13

    The Commission Nationale des Droits de l'Homme [National Human Rights Commission] (CNDH) began inauspiciously. It was launched by two lawyers who were closely allied with the President - Aboudou Assouma, a prosecuting magistrate in Lomé who is now a Constitutional Court judge, and Yao Agboyibor, then president of the bar association and now a member of the political opposition. Since 1985, Yao Agboyibor had defended Togo internationally against accusations of human rights abuses.14 In 1987, Yao Agboyibor and Aboudou Assouma represented Togo at the U.N. Commission on Human Rights. On their return from Geneva, they proposed the human rights commission to President Eyadema, largely as a means of "responding to the wishes of the international community," according to Aboudou Assouma.15 President Eyadema responded positively. "I'm a soldier," he reportedly told Assouma, "you tell me what to do."16 Aboudou Assouma returned to Geneva to gather necessary documents while Yao Agboyibor began the task of drafting the law. On June 9, 1987, the law was promulgated. The CNDH was officially inaugurated with Yao Agboyibor as its president and Aboudou Assouma as the vice-president on October 21, 1987.17

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