ACHPR Livestream Screenshot
As part of the 83rd ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Commissioner Salma Sassi presented the African Commission’s papers on the state of cooperation with national human rights institutions and non-governmental organisations.
During her presentation, Commissioner Sassi outlined the role of cooperation with NHRIs and with NGOs in promoting and protecting human rights in Africa, as per article 45(1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The presentation drew attention to Resolution 370 on the Granting of Affiliate Status to National Human Rights Institutions and Specialized Human Rights Institutions in Africa and Resolution 572 on the Criteria for Granting and Maintaining Observer Status to Non-Governmental Organisations working on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Africa, which, respectively, govern cooperation with NHRIs and with NGOs. The discussion also reiterated that NHRIs and NGOs are bound to provide the African Commission with periodic activity reports.
As of the 81st ordinary session, 38 NHRIs and specialised human rights institutions have been granted affiliate status, including 2 new ones since 2023: the National Torture Prevention Mechanism of Mauritania and the National Gender and Equality Commission of Kenya.
Furthermore, ahead of the 83rd ordinary session, 4 NHRIs submitted activity reports, from: Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, South Africa, and Egypt. The NHRIs from Ghana and Tanzania are also in compliance with their reporting obligations, having submitted their reports at the 81st and 79th ordinary sessions, respectively. As of May 2025, a total of 30 NHRIs are late on their reporting obligations.
Moreover, the presentation explained how observer status was granted to 8 NGOs since the 81st ordinary session: the African International Christian Ministry; the Alliance of Women Advocating for Change; Inua Advocacy; the Southern Africa Human Rights Defenders Network; the Association congolaise contre l’impunité et pour le développement; Caritas développement Bukavu; the Groupe de recherche-action sur la sécurité humaine; and the Centre d’actions pour le développement. This brings the total number of NGOs with observer status to 579.
Ahead of the 83rd ordinary session, 5 NGOs submitted activity reports: the African Child Policy Forum; the AIDS and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa; the Centre d’actions pour le développement; the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project; and the Human Rights Implementation Centre. This brings the total number of NGOs that have submitted at least one or more activity reports to 420.
The African Commission called on all NHRIs and NGOs to comply with their reporting obligations.
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 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.
During the 83rd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), the Republic of Zimbabwe presented its 16th Periodic Report, covering the period 2019 to 2023, which highlighted several institutional and legislative reforms.
