The Work Group on The Death Penalty of The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights was established in 2005 by the Commission; its members are Commissioners ans independent experts.

The Working Group’s mandate is:
 "Elaborate further a Concept Paper on the Death Penalty in Africa;
 Develop a Strategic Plan(s), including a practical and legal framework on the abolition of the Death Penalty;
 Collect information and continue to monitor the situation of the application of the Death Penalty in African States;
 Develop a funding proposal with a view to raising funds to meet the costs of the work of the Working Group;
 Submit a progress report at each Ordinary Session of the African Commission;”

It is chaired by the Commissioner Ms. Sylvie Zeinabo Kayitesi since 2007.

The Working Group on the death penalty has four different type of activities:
 It propose draft resolutions to the Commission on the issue of the death penalty;
 It is working on the Concept Paper on the death penalty;
 It has organized two regional conferences on the death penalty;
 It sends urgent appeals to AU member states.

In October 2012, the mandate of the Working Group has been expanded to to include issues of extra-judicial, summary or arbitrary killings. The amended title is now The Working Group on Death Penalty and Extra-Judicial, Summary or Arbitrary killings in Africa