Human Rights WatchGovernment Human Rights Commissions in Africa ContentsDownloadPrintOrderHRW Homepage

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




Funding

    The 1996 law strengthens the obligations on the state to fund the CNDH. Article 25 provides, "The state includes in the general annual budget the credits necessary to the functioning of the commission."59 Since 1997, all the commission's funds have come from the state budget. The commission itself details its budgetary needs, which it submits to the ministry of finance. The ministry then includes it in the proposed general budget to be approved by the national assembly.60

    In 1998, the commission received 107 million CFA francs [approximately U.S.$180,000] in state funds. Roughly 40 percent of that was dedicated to personnel (salaries and indemnities to commissaires and the staff totalling thirty people) and 60 percent to operational costs (equipment, supplies, "promotion" and "protection" expenses, travel expenses, and overhead costs). In 1998, a member received 135,000 CFA francs [U.S.$225] per month. In 1999 the commission hoped to receive 133 million CFA [U.S.$220,000] in state funds, as well as obtain outside funding from foundations with which it has already made contact. The salaries of the commissioners are fixed according to the law and are commensurate with other government salaries.61

    The CNDH has been making a concerted effort to obtain funding from outside sources, including notably, the U.N. High Commission for Human Rights and UNDP. The U.N. High Commissioner's office previously funded a technical cooperation program that did not concern the CNDH directly. In 1999, the U.N. High Commissioner's office was planning to send a mission with the purpose of preparing a cooperation agreement that would lead to funding and technical assistance.

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



BACK TO TOP

Copyright © 2001
Human Rights Watch