THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON PRISONS AND CONDITIONS OF DETENTION IN AFRICA The Mechanism of the Special Rapporteur T he African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR, hereafter the Commission) is an organ of the African Union (AU) The Commission's function is to monitor the implementation and respect of the African Charter for Human and Peoples' Rights. The Commission convenes twice a year for sessions during which the main points of its mandate and progress made by member States for a better implementation of the Rights protected by the Charter are discussed. In accordance with its mandate under Article 45 of the Afncan Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, the Commission established during its 20th session in Maurice, in October 1996, the position of Special Rapporteur on Prisons and conditions of detention in Aftica. Commissioner Prof E. V.O. Dankwa (Ghana) ii appointed the first Special Rapporteur. His mandate was renewed in 1 998 and iu l'86 he was elected Chairperson of the ACHPR. During its 28th kd 'nary in Benin, in October 2000, the Commission nominated Commissioner Dr. Vera M. Chirwa, to the post of Special Rapporteur on Prisons and Conditions of Detention in Africa The Commission has set the terms of reference for the work of the Special Rapporteur as follows: Methods of work The Special Rapporteur shall: examine the state of prisons and conditions of detention in Africa and make recommendations with a view to improving them; advocate adherence to the Charter and international human rights norms and standards concerning the rights of persons deprived of their liberty and the conditions in which they are held, examine the relevant national law and regulations in the respective States Parties as well as their implementation and make appropriate recommendations on their 46 47