ISHR
At the 89th session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights, ISHR shared concerns about the situation of human rights defenders in Cameroon, Zambia and Guinea, especially in regards to the restrictive legal framework they work in and drew their attention to the state of civic space in Africa.
During the session, States and National Human Rights Institutions (NHRI) delivered statements on the situation of human rights in their respective countries.
Chad’s NHRI shared that the protection of the freedoms of association and assembly and of human rights defenders remain essential to civic participation, the prevention of tensions in the country and the consolidation of the rule of law. These issues deserve sustained attention from the government and the African Commission.
On 13 October, ISHR delivered a statement on the situation of human rights in Africa.
The statement highlighted the resurgence of the violation of the freedoms of association and assembly in Cameroon, Zambia and Guinea.
In Cameroon, human rights defenders have died at the hands of, or whilst in the custody of, the police and the renewal of registration certificates and licences for certain organisations is proving difficult, with some organisations having activities suspended and administrative measures adopted with the aim of restricting access to funding for targeted organisations.
In Zambia, numerous laws severely restrict civic space such as the Public Order Act or the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act.
'In light of the seriousness and urgency of this situation in Guinea, ISHR calls on the African Commission to carry out a mission in the country in order to assess the situation on the ground and make urgent recommendations to the authorities.'Lidawh-wè Fabienne Dontema, Africa Legal and Advocacy Officer at ISHR.
ISHR also encouraged the African Commission to ensure that the draft African Declaration on human rights defenders remains firmly rooted in the fundamental principles of universality, independence and non-discrimination.
It is also essential to continue holding inclusive consultations with networks and coalitions of defenders, so that they can contribute to the process.
Finally, considering transnational repression has severe impacts on the right of defenders who advocate for human rights and fundamental freedoms and engage with regional mechanisms, ISHR called on the African Commission to adopt a resolution on this issue and to carry out a comprehensive continent-wide study on transnational repression in Africa, examining, amongst other things, its nature, scale, patterns, methods, perpetrators, the populations affected, and its impact on the enjoyment of human rights.
Over two days, the forum celebrated the African Charter’s historic achievement but converged on a clear warning: its next phase must prioritise implementation, resourcing, the protection of civic space, accountability, and tangible remedies so that the Charter becomes an enforceable source of protection in people’s daily lives rather than an aspiration on paper.
At the margins of the 89th session of the African commission, civil society groups discussed the growing challenges and threats weighing on journalists working the Sahel.
Zambia must ensure that human rights defenders can speak out, organise and work freely. In a joint submission to the African Commission, ISHR, SACCORD and ZNHRD highlight restrictive legislations and call for progress towards the adoption of the law for the promotion and protection of the rights of defenders.
