On 8 May 2025, during the 83rd ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), ISHR delivered a statement under Item 5, which focused on the activity report of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders. The statement reaffirmed ISHR’s strong commitment to the protection and empowerment of defenders across Africa.
On 10 May, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (‘the African Commission’) organised a panel discussion on the reform process of the judicial and quasi-judicial organs of the African Union. Commissioners of the African Commission, Solomon Ayele Dersso and Litha Musyimi-Ogana, and Ibrahim Kane stated their views on the proposed reform.
ISHR leads joint NGO letter addressed to all UN Member States urging support for consensus renewal of the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders at HRC52.
For the first time since 2019, the NGO Forum ahead of the ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Commission), was held in person in Banjul on 17 and 18 October. This session’s discussions focused on human rights and governance in Africa: a multi-dimensional approach in addressing conflict, crisis and inequality.
As the world celebrates the international anti-corruption day and the 24th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders on this day, 9 December 2022, ISHR and 81 other organisations and individuals co-signed this public statement.
‘Witnessing the realisation of human rights in our countries would be a great joy because that is what we work towards.’
On the second day of the NGO Forum ahead of the 73rd session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), civil society discussed measures taken by crisis-stricken African States that hamper progress in fighting gender-based violence and shrink civic space.
At the 50th session of the Human Rights Council, Togo underwent its 3rd Universal Periodic Review (UPR). While the government showed a willingness to promote some of the rights necessary to enable the work of human rights defenders, large structural and legal efforts are still needed to improve the situation overall.
The 50th session of the UN Human Rights Council, from 13 June to 8 July 2022, will consider issues including sexual orientation and gender identity, violence and discrimination against women and girls, poverty, peaceful assembly and association, and freedom of expression, among others. It will also present an opportunity to address grave human rights situations including in Afghanistan, Belarus, China, Eritrea, Israel and OPT, Russia, Sudan, Syria and Venezuela, among many others. Here’s an overview of some of the key issues on the agenda.
Short and comprehensive draft containing most rights and obligations of the Model Law, albeit simply listed.
