ISHR
On 22 May 2025, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR, or the African Commission) concluded its 83rd ordinary session, which saw the State periodic reviews of Ethiopia and Zimbabwe, panels on the repression of human rights defenders, the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, and reparations for Africans and people of African descent, as well as the launch of ISHR’s report on the situation of defenders in African island States and a new e-learning module on the African Commission.
The 83rd ordinary session was held in person in Banjul (The Gambia) and ran from 2 May to 22 May 2025, with the public session in particular – open to State representatives, national human rights institutions, and civil society – running from 2 May to 12 May. This session’s theme was ‘Justice for Africans and people of African descent through reparations’, in line with the theme of the year of the African Union.
A total of 570 participants attended the session, including: 142 representatives from 28 States, 15 African Union representatives, 9 representatives from international organisations, 22 representatives from national human rights institutions (NHRIs), 218 representatives from non-governmental organisations (NGOs), 30 members of the press, and 54 staff members of the African Commission.
The opening ceremony saw speeches by 11 speakers, including, among others, Hannah Foster from the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies, speaking on behalf of the NGO Forum preceding the session, and Chairperson Rémy Ngoy Lumbu of the African Commission.
On the human rights situation in Africa, 40 NGOs with observer status made statements during the session, including ISHR, whose statement drew attention to the situation in the DRC, highlighted the progress made in Zambia toward a human rights defenders protection law, called for reparations for Africans and people of African descent, and called for a binding treaty on environmental rights in Africa.
On intersession activities, all 11 Commissioners presented their reports, including Commissioner Rémy Ngoy Lumbu, Chairperson of the African Commission, Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, Focal Point on Reprisals, and Focal Point on Judicial Independence in Africa, on whose report ISHR made a statement, notably drawing attention to the situation in Côte d’Ivoire, the launch of our brand new report on the situation of defenders in African island States, and calling for the release of the first report on reprisals.
On thematic topics, 6 panels were held during the session, including on silencing human rights defenders, on the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, and on reparations for Africans and people of African descent.
The African Commission also presented the state of compliance with reporting obligations among NHRIs and NGOs, as well as the granting of affiliate status and observer status to NHRIs and NGOs, respectively.
Finally, the session also saw the review of the State reports of Ethiopia and of Zimbabwe, during which, in the case of Ethiopia in particular, the African Commission’s questions drew attention to the situation of human rights defenders.
From 13 May to 21 May, the Commissioners entered the private session, during which the following 6 resolutions were adopted:
More information on the next session of the African Commission will be communicated soon.
During the 83rd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), a high-level panel discussion was held on advancing justice for Africans and people of African descent through reparations.
At the 83rd ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Commission, or ACHPR), the African Commission reviewed Ethiopia under the State reporting procedure, as per article 62 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. We call on Ethiopia to do more to protect human rights defenders in the country.
As part of the 83rd ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Commission, or ACHPR), Commissioner Salma Sassi presented the African Commission’s papers on the state of cooperation with national human rights institutions (NHRIs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
