Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre
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ACHPR83: ISHR urges stronger protection for human rights defenders across Africa
On 8 May 2025, during the 83rd ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), ISHR delivered a statement under Item 5, which focused on the activity report of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders. The statement reaffirmed ISHR’s strong commitment to the protection and empowerment of defenders across Africa.
In his report, the Special Rapporteur reflected on progress made in establishing national protection mechanisms, particularly noting positive developments in countries like Côte d’Ivoire, where defenders are now afforded a formal seat within the mechanism. He described this as a critical step in ensuring their voices are part of decision-making processes. He also discussed the initiatives taken as Country Rapporteur responsible for monitoring the human rights situation in Algeria, Cameroon, Mali and Togo where he also highlighted challenges that continue to impede the work of human rights defenders, including restrictive laws, threats, intimidation, and a lack of accountability for violations against defenders.
A significant portion of the report focused on the ongoing work to prevent reprisals against defenders who engage with African human rights mechanisms. The Rapporteur acknowledged the importance of civil society collaboration in this regard and affirmed the need for transparent reporting and institutional action to safeguard defenders from retaliation.
Following his presentation, Antoine Tremblay, Africa Fellow at the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), delivered a statement welcoming the report and commending the mandate’s continued efforts to advance defenders’ protection.
ISHR commended the Special Rapporteur’s tireless work and welcomed progress made in recent years, particularly the establishment of national protection mechanisms for defenders in three African countries since 2021—the latest being Côte d’Ivoire. Tremblay highlighted the positive development of defenders being granted a seat within the mechanism in Côte d’Ivoire, underscoring that effective protection of human rights defenders cannot be achieved without the defenders themselves.
Tremblay also drew attention to ISHR’s recent report on human rights defenders in Africa’s island States which touched on Cape Verde, Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Seychelles, and urged the mandate to continue strengthening collaboration with civil society organisations in these countries to address long-standing challenges.
The statement further addressed reprisals and intimidation targeting civil society actors who cooperate with the African human rights system. Recalling ISHR’s earlier submissions in response to the 2019–2020 call for inputs, Tremblay called for greater transparency and accountability mechanisms to protect those engaging with regional bodies.
ISHR also expressed hope that the first report of the Focal Point on reprisals will be presented at the Commission’s next session, and urged the Commission and States to take firm action against all forms of intimidation.
For the African human rights system to function at its best, human rights defenders must be able to share crucial opinions and information about situations on the ground.
Antoine Tremblay, Africa Fellow, ISHR
Finally, ISHR reiterated its ongoing support for the mandate of the Special Rapporteur and called for progress toward the adoption of an African Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, building on the commitments outlined in the Declaration +25.
Watch the full statement below:
Author
Adélaïde Etong Kame
Adélaïde has a Master in International Law and Relations from the University of Clermont-Ferrand. Adélaïde worked with indigenous people and minorities in Mauritania for better protection of their rights, especially victims of slavery. Previously, she advocated for the rights of women in Poland and Macedonia as well as the advancement of freedom of expression in Central Africa.
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