The award ceremony was conducted by his Excellency Alassane OUTARA, President of the Republic of Cote D’Ivoire on 9 October 2012 during the 25th Anniversary of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights held by the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights in Yamoussoukro, Cote D'Ivoire.

The award was given to three NHRIs, namely: Uganda Human Rights Commission, South Africa Human Rights Commission and National Human Rights Commission and Freedom of Cameroon and three NGOs: The Center for Democracy and Human Rights, the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa and the Center for Human Rights of the University of Pretoria

The criteria the African Commission used to grant the award to NHRIs were:
(a)    Level of commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights (particularly in line with the Commission’s promotion and protection mandates as prescribed in the African Charter), and the strengthening of democracy and good governance at the national level, for instance, through its educational role to the public; advisory role to the Government, partnership with other local human rights stakeholders and cooperation with international, regional and national institutions that are competent in the areas of the protection and promotion of human rights;
 (b)   Level of attendance and participation at the Sessions of the Commission, including interventions during Public Sessions and proposal of issues which may be put to vote at the request of any member of the Commission;
(c)  Level of co-operation and engagement with the Commission during the inter-Session periods, including regularity of consultations on matters of mutual/common interest and role in the implementation of the decisions of the Commission (including reporting back to/updating the Commission about the domestic status of implementation of its decisions).
(d)  Level of direct contribution to the work of the Commission, if any, noting in particular, the significance; nature and duration of such contribution; and
 (a) Knowledge and utilisation of relevant procedures of the Commission, including its Communications Procedure and participation in the State Reporting Procedure of the Commission i.e. through involvement in the preparation of relevant State Reports and/or the submission of alternative reports or supplementary information.

To this end, the Commission views this award as a symbol of appreciation and acknowledgement for the tireless endeavours it has undertaken to address the violation of human rights and injustices in South Africa, specifically, but also on the continent at large.
 
ENDS