The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) held its 81st Ordinary Session in Banjul, The Gambia, from 17 October to 6 November 2024, with 631 participants, including 372 representatives of non-governmental organisations. The session was preceded by the Forum on the Participation of NGOs, from 13 to 15 October.
Highlights of the ACHPR's 81st session included the periodic reviews of Angola and Burkina Faso, the launch of Declaration +25, the unveiling of a tool to track civic space in Africa, and the passing of 27 resolutions. READ MORE >
Participants to the NGO Forum discussed key human rights issues affecting the continent and the work of defenders, formulating two key recommendations and proposing 18 country and thematic resolutions to address these. READ MORE >
In a statement, ISHR called on the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders to release his long-awaited report on reprisals and to urge States to take steps to meet their obligations to provide a safe environment for defenders. READ MORE >
At a side event co-hosted by ISHR on the margins of the 81st session of the African Commission, panelists reviewed the state of environmental defenders’ rights and reiterated their call for an African regional framework on environmental rights. READ MORE >
This new instrument will monitor legislation on the protection of defenders by country and their level of development and implementation. It will also rank States by their compliance with international and regional standards. READ MORE >
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 respects international human rights norms. READ MORE >
Following its periodic State review, ISHR called on the Angolan government to do more to protect and support the work of human rights defenders, journalists, and civil society organisations. READ MORE >
ISHR co-hosted an event to reflect on the real, albeit uneven progress in the protection of defenders’ rights 25 years after the adoption of the UN Declaration on human rights defenders. READ MORE >
READ OUR FULL COVERAGE OF THE NGO FORUM & 81st SESSION OF THE AFRICAN COMMISSION:
Situation of State reporting at the African Commission READ MORE >
Burkina Faso must stop conscripting, abducting defenders READ MORE >
Supporting the work of LGBTIQ+ defenders in Côte d’Ivoire READ MORE >
African States must do more to protect, support defenders READ MORE >
NHRIs, NGOs should submit activity reports to the Commission READ MORE >
Towards a progressive interpretation of confidentiality for broader participation READ MORE >
79th SESSION'S SUMMARY
The Commission held its 79th Ordinary Session from 14 May to 3 June 2024 in a hybrid format. Among others, the ACHPR examined eight communications and one State periodic report, also granting observer status to 10 NGOs and held nine panels.
Attendance was halved in comparison with the 77th ACHPR session, which was held in person. There was a sharp drop among participants from NGOs, showing that hybrid modalities can weaken civil society's ability to engage among themselves and with the Commission on critical issues. READ MORE >
The NGO Forum took place between 11-13 May, in a hybrid format with in-person segments in Banjul, The Gambia. The forum was centred on the theme of ‘Educating an African Fit for the 21st century’. READ MORE >
As it granted observer status to nine non-governmental organisations and affiliate status to two national human rights institutions, the Commission underscored the role both bodies can play in its work. READ MORE >
Participants to the Commission’s panel discussion on its draft African Declaration on Human Rights Defenders highlighted the proposed covenant’s novelties. They also pushed for the Declaration to address specific and emerging threats weighing on the work of human rights defenders. READ MORE >
In a joint statement, ISHR and partners called for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan. The conflict has caused the largest displacement crisis in the world alongside humanitarian and human rights crises that particularly affect women. READ MORE >
In its submission for its periodic report for 2015-2021, Mozambique failed to share progress made on the implementation of the Protocol to the Charter on the Rights of Women in Africa (the Maputo Protocol) and the Kampala convention. READ MORE >
READ OUR FULL COVERAGE OF THE NGO FORUM & 79th SESSION OF THE AFRICAN COMMISSION:
Draft, adopt a regional instrument protecting environmental defenders in Africa READ MORE >
Key stakeholders must coordinate their efforts for States to submit periodic reports READ MORE >
Established defenders’ protection mechanisms need more resources READ MORE >
ISHR would like to thank Irish Aid and Bread for the World for their generosity in supporting this publication.
Kumulika is a newsletter produced by ISHR with the aim of informing readers of developments and opportunities around the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.
