NGO Forum: Legacies of Colonial Laws and the Call for Decriminalization in Africa
During the session of the NGO Forum preceding the 83rd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), a panel focused on the enduring impact of colonial-era laws on vulnerable populations across Africa was organised. The panel brought together human rights defenders and advocates to examine how outdated legal frameworks continue to marginalize communities, particularly LGBTQ+ individuals and sex workers, and to discuss pathways toward decriminalization and justice.