NGO Forum: Sub-regional focal points confirm attacks against African defenders

Ahead of their participation in the 85th public session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, civil society organisations looked at the situation of human rights on the continent.

This prior assessment by the African focal points from the five regions of Africa – Central, East, North, Southern, and West – asserted that the situation of human rights, and especially the conditions of human rights defenders on the continent, is increasingly alarming. 

Practices undermining the rights of defenders and restricting their work environment are the same in almost all African countries.

The recurring violations are: 

• On the right to access information and freedom of expression: internet shutdowns, and the frequent use of anti-terrorism and cybercrime laws to repress freedom of expression and press in both civic and digital spaces. 
• On freedom of association: suspensions of non-governmental organisations and political parties. 
• On freedom of assembly: bans of protests, repressions of protestors, excessive use of force. 
• On liberty and security of the person: harassments, intimidations, arbitrary arrests, raising of racial and gender discrimination, abductions and enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial executions. 

These constant threats and recurring attacks limit human rights defenders’ freedom to carry out their legitimate activities. In view of the increasing number of cases, the moderator commented that, on the continent: