The NGO Forum ahead of the 85th public ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Commission) was held under the African Union theme “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations”. During those days, more than ten panels were held to discuss and evaluate human rights on the continent, and especially the situation of human rights defenders with regard to African racial discrimination history and the current dynamics of attacks on HRDs.
On the decades of historical injustice and the need for justice and reparation
The leading theme of this year is “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations”. In consideration of years of historical racial discrimination and injustice through colonialism, transatlantic slave trade, apartheid, etc, and in alignment with the regional dynamic, the NGO Forum discussed the continual 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:
- Reparations: Justice for Africans and People of African Descent.
- Towards accountability and promotion of human rights: The case for an independent rapporteur on debt, tax, and IFFs.
- Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination’s Proposed General Recommendation on Reparations.
- What impact do historical injustices have on the rights of communities discriminated against based on work and descent in Africa?
- Environmental Justice and Indigenous Peoples’ Rights.
Overall, the above-mentioned panels acknowledge the harms and the need for reparations, and look at the various currently available ways to achieve the 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.
Regarding the situation of human rights on the continent and the risks to HRDs
As they were preparing their participation in the 85th public ordinary session of the African Commission, the NGOs gathered during the Forum shared the situation of human rights in their respective regions and countries. In the two following panels, the Forum acknowledged that the HRDs’ civic space is highly threatened, and more and more, States are using repressive laws on cybercrime, anti-terrorism, offense on threats to the safety and security of the State to pursue HRDs with strong opinions.
- Overview and Update on The Situations of Human Rights and Democracy in Africa Sub-Regional Focal Points Reports.
- Civic Space Under Threat.
These situations put risks such as harassment, intimidation, arbitrary arrests, racial and gender discrimination, abductions and enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial executions on HRDs who are less free to execute their work.
To combat those trends, HRDs call for the repeal of restrictive laws and alignment of laws and practices with international standards in African countries.
About the need to protect HRDs
On the need to protect people in general and HRDs in particular, the Forum held the following panels:
- Ending Impunity for Human Rights Violations.
- Protecting the Rights of Vulnerable Groups.
- Popularization of the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AU-CEVAWG).
- Protection of Human Rights Defenders in Africa: Main Challenges.
- AI and Human Rights in Africa: Navigating the Future of Governance and Development.
Recognising the various challenges faced by certain categories of persons, including HRDs, 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, a dedicated panel looked at how AI can be used to fabricate stories that can be used against HRDs. HRDs were, therefore, called to be cautious.
Furthermore, considering the diversity of attacks against HRDs, participants at the NGO Forum agreed on the necessity of establishing and improving protection mechanisms for HRDs. Among other tactics, it was proposed that the adoption of national laws on the recognition and protection of HRDs.
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”. This panel was moderated by the NGO Forum Steering Committee.
Special Interest Groups
To deepen discussions based on specific individual interests, participants took part in the following available 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 color 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, as is their custom, in a collaborative approach, the CSOs adopted the country and thematic resolutions and recommendations to propose to the African Commission:
- Thematic resolutions.
- Country resolutions.
- Thematic recommendations.
The ACDHRS closed the NGO Forum of the 85th session of the African Commission with recommendations and resolutions to be proposed to the ACHPR for the improvement of human rights’ protection in Africa.
