On 6 November, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) concluded its 81st session. Highlights included the periodic review of Angola and Burkina Faso, and the launch of Declaration+25 and a tracker for civic space in Africa.
Following the presentation of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders’ Intersessional Report, ISHR delivered a statement calling on his mandate to release his long-awaited report on reprisals and remind States of their obligations to ensure a safe environment for defenders to conduct their activities.
At the review of Burkina Faso’s periodic report to the African Commission, ISHR noted a worrying trend of arrests, conscription, and abductions of human rights defenders, some of whom are deployed to the battlefield.
At a side event on the relevance of the African human rights system to the conflict in Gaza, panellists urged States and the Commission to ensure Israel ends its unlawful occupation and respect international human rights norms.
In the wake of its periodic State review, we call on the Angolan government to do more to protect and support the work of human rights defenders, journalists, and civil society organisations.
We call on all African States, including Burkina Faso, Mauritius, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to do more to ensure defenders are safe and supported in their vital work.
We are taking stock of the situation of State reporting to the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, in particular the challenges that remain to ensure regular and reliable human rights reporting.
While acknowledging their contributions to its work, the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights reminded National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and civil society groups of their obligation to submit reports of their activities every two years.
Panellists in an African Commission debate called for a progressive interpretation of the African Charter to ensure broader participation to Commission proceedings and speed up the implementation of its decisions.
At a side event co-organised by ISHR on the sidelines of the 81st Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, panellists reflected on developments and regress regarding the protection of defenders’ rights 25 years after the adoption of the UN Declaration on human rights defenders. They also commented on the role of the Declaration +25.
