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




Assessment

    The comparatively long experience of Togo with a national human rights commission demonstrates the great potential, but also the great fragility of the institution. Few could have predicted the dynamic role that the CNDH would play when it was first created by close allies to the President at a time of single party rule. Farsighted and courageous leadership, particularly under the second President of the CNDH, Robert Dovi, were essential to the movement that led to the national conference and the constitution of 1991. The leadership of the CNDH provided an umbrella of protection that assisted the emergence of the local human rights NGOs.

    But when President Eyadema began his crackdown on the democratic movement, the CNDH was one of the victims. CNDH President Dovi was forced into exile. The commission was reduced to a passive role with a caretaker directorate. The location was even moved to a neighborhood more supportive of the president. When the CNDH was eventually revived in 1996, the authorities succeeded in undermining it while apparently expanding its membership and powers. It is ironic that the composition of the CNDH was more diverse under one party rule. Parliamentary election of commissioners has ensured broad allegiance to current administration. Moreover, the tight control exerted by the commission's president, Komi Gnondoli, has limited the potential for dissenting voices from within.

    Due in part to its past success, the current CNDH has little credibility with the population or foreign community that follows human rights in the country. The promotional activities undertaken by the CNDH, which might be appreciated in other countries, are viewed as largely hollow in the absence of will to engage in protection as well. These activities are further undermined by President Gnondoli's willingness to speak out in defense of Togo's human rights record and to criticize international investigations.

    The experience of the CNDH also demonstrates the importance of working with human rights NGOs. The CNDH preceded the emergence of independent human rights organizations in Togo, making it unnecessary for the Commission to give them special deference. Now, however, there exist credible NGOs with their own regional and international links. The credibility of the CNDH will depend, in part, on its willingness to work with the NGOs. Thus far, the CNDH has not reached out to the NGOs, though it was contemplating a regular forum for exchange. Me. Devotsou of the LTDH felt NGOs would be willing to explore such a possibility.

    For human rights in Togo, the CNDH represents potential for the future, once there is a change of leadership on Commission or a change of will on the part of the authorities. However, in the short term, it also represents a threat. The political troubles of the past years have imposed high costs on Togo, both economically and diplomatically. The major donor nations have cut off support. Much of its shipping industry was lost to neighboring Benin during the worst period of troubles.

    As part of President Eyadema's effort to revive his image and the image of the country, the CNDH has been involved in what could be termed a "charm offensive" aimed at regional and international organizations. President Gnondoli has actively attended international meetings, presenting the commission as a model under the U.N. Paris Principles. Togo has offered to host the next Africa-wide regional meeting of human rights commissions in 2000. A human rights commissioner from another Francophone West African country told Human Rights Watch that Togo's neighbors are well aware of the CNDH's shortcomings and had some reservations about the meeting being hosted there. Their public support for the decision was only because they wanted the next meeting to be held in a Francophone country rather than any endorsement of legitimacy for the Togolese commission.62 While Togo continues to crack down on human rights activists in the country, and refuses to respond to the claims of the local and international NGOs, international recognition and support for the CNDH without conditions can only hurt human rights in Togo.

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