Outcomes of the NGO Forum ahead of the 85th session of the ACHPR

The NGO Forum ahead of the 85th session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) was held under the African Union theme of ‘Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations’. More than ten panels held to discuss and evaluate human rights on the continent, and especially the situation of human rights defenders with regard to racial discrimination and the current dynamics of attacks against them.

On the decades of historical injustice and the need for justice and reparation 

Considering the history of racial discrimination and injustice through colonialism, transatlantic slave trade, apartheid and more, and in alignment with the regional dynamic, the NGO Forum discussed the continued impacts of history on Africans and people of African descent with a focus on human rights and human rights defenders. 

The following panel discussions expanded upon this theme: 

1. Reparations: Justice for Africans and people of African descent
2. Towards accountability and promotion of human rights: The case for an independent rapporteur on debt, tax, and IFFs  
3. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination’s proposed general recommendation on reparations  
4. What impact do historical injustices have on the rights of communities discriminated against based on work and descent in Africa?
5. Environmental justice and Indigenous Peoples’ rights 

Overall, these panels acknowledged the harms and the need for reparations, and looked at various ways to achieve reparations and thus grant human rights-based justice to Africans and people of African descent. These ways may be related to the adoption of legal and institutional policies as well as the provision of reparations funds. 

On the situation of human rights and the risks defenders face on the continent

As they prepared their participation at the African Commission, NGOs at the Forum discussed the situation of human rights in their respective regions. In the two following panels, the Forum acknowledged that civic space is highly threatened and that States are increasingly using repressive laws on cybercrime, anti-terrorism, and so-called ‘national security’ rhetoric to crack down on defenders with strong opinions. 

1. Overview and update on the situations of human rights and democracy in Africa Sub-Regional focal points reports. 
2. Civic space under threat.

These situations put human rights defenders at risk of acts such as harassment, intimidation, arbitrary arrests, racial and gender discrimination, abductions and enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial executions, leaving them less free and able to carry out their work. 

To combat those trends, defenders call for the repeal of restrictive laws and alignment of laws and practices with international standards in African countries. 

About the need to protect human rights defenders

On the need to protect people in general and defenders in particular, the Forum held the following panels: 

1. Ending impunity for human rights violations 
2. Protecting the rights of vulnerable groups
3. Popularisation of the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AU-CEVAWG) 
4. Protection of human rights defenders in Africa: Main challenges 
5. AI and human rights in Africa: Navigating the future of governance and development 

Recognising the various challenges faced by certain categories of persons, including human rights defenders, women, and persons with disabilities in enjoying their specific rights, the forum gave the opportunity to the specific groups to share their experiences, and discuss how reparations for their faced challenges can be achieved. 

The importance of documentation of violations, implementation of ratified international instruments, and constant advocacy for the protection of rights has been acknowledged. 

On the popularisation of the use of artificial intelligence (AI), a dedicated panel looked at how AI can be used to fabricate stories that can be used against human rights defenders, calling on the latter to be cautious. 

Furthermore, considering the diversity of attacks against defenders, participants at the Forum agreed on the necessity of establishing and improving protection mechanisms for them. Among other tactics, speakers debated the adoption of national laws on the recognition and protection of human rights defenders. 

On the improvement of the African Human Rights NGOs Forum

The Forum held a panel on ‘Consolidating achievements and strengthening strategies: Advancing human rights through the African Human Rights NGOs Forum’.

Special interest groups

To deepen discussions based on specific individual interests, participants took part in the following interest groups:

• Peacebuilding and conflict resolution: Armed conflicts, military coups, and political tensions
• Rights of women and gender-based violations in Africa
• Migration, internally displaced persons, and refugees in Africa
• Healthcare services for women, children, and marginalised individuals
• African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and sustainable development
• Freedom of assembly and association (Human Rights Defenders)
• Economic challenges: Youth unemployment and poverty
• Safeguarding people and the planet; addressing human rights, environmental justice, and ecocide in Africa
• Xenophobia and discrimination of persons of colour and sexual minorities in Africa
• Rights of older and differently-abled persons in Africa
• Communities discriminated on work and descent in Africa

At the end of the Forum, participating organisations adopted country and thematic resolutions and recommendations to propose to the African Commission: 

1. Thematic resolutions.
2. Country resolutions. 
3. Thematic recommendations.