Report of the African Commission's Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities. Research and Information Visit to the Republic of Gabon, 15 - 30 September 2007

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights' Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities undertook a research and information visit to the Republic of Gabon in September 2007. This report gives an account of meetings held with government authorities, civil society organizations, indigenous communities and other stakeholders, it describes the situation of the indigenous populations in the Republic of Gabon and it makes recommendations to the Government, civil society organizations and the international community. The visit was also designed to update the Working Group on the human rights situation of the Bakas, the Akowa (Bakowa), the Bekui, the Babinga, the Bambongo and the Barimba, these groups representing as a whole the indigenous peoples of Gabon. This report has five key sections: the socio-political background of indigenous peoples, the legal framework, a summary of the different meeting, an overview of the indigenous peoples’ rights’ situation, the conclusion and the recommendations.

The report is published both in English and French.