Year Document adopted February 1996 First conference of NHRIs in Africa where the Yaoundé Declaration was adopted where participating NHRIs agreed to negotiate for a proper representative status at the African Commission October 1996 Adoption of the Mauritius Action Plan for the African Commission to seek the cooperation of NHRIs in fulfilling its mandate April 1997 A paper on NHRIs’ engagement discussed by African Commission July 1998 Durban Declaration, paragraph 14: NHRIs urged the ACHPR to adopt, at its next session, an appropriate resolution on the effective participation of NHRIs in the work of the ACHPR. October 1998 ACHPR Resolution 31 on granting observer status to NHRIs (New Criteria adopted in Resolution 370 of 2017) Criteria for obtaining affiliate status (Resolution 370) • • • • • • • • Should be duly established by law Should be an NHRI or specialized human rights institution of a State party Its independence should be guaranteed in law Should have a broad mandate as possible, capable of promoting, protecting and monitoring human rights through various means. Should be characterized by effective functioning Should be adequately funded and not subject to financial control. Should be accessible to the general public Should be composed of diverse membership representative of society Checklist for application for affiliate status • • • • • A formal letter of application to the African Commission sent 3 months prior to the session in which the application will be considered. A copy of the law which establishes the NHRI Documentation showing how the NHRIs conforms to the criteria A list of the members of the NHRI Information on the sources of funding of the NHRI Benefits of affiliate status • • • • Invitation to African Commission sessions Participation in African Commission deliberations on issues of interest, without voting rights Submission of proposals of agenda items Address the African Commission through oral statements Obligations of NHRIs having affiliate status 9