The curtain fell on an interactive three-day NGOs Forum preceding the 87th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights with a resounding call for justice, accountability, and protection of human rights defenders across Africa.
Presenting the official report of the Forum during the opening of the Commission’s Public Session, Ms Ellen Ann described the gathering as “a sacred space of conscience, solidarity, truth-telling, and collective visioning for the future of our continent.”
Held over three days, the Forum brought together 160 participants from 32 countries, including representatives of civil society organizations, human rights defenders, development partners, and grassroots activists. According to the report, the participants included 87 women, 72 men, and one gender-neutral participant, reflecting what organizers described as the Forum’s growing inclusivity and continental reach.
Throughout the deliberations, participants examined some of Africa’s most urgent human rights concerns, ranging from shrinking civic space and unconstitutional changes of government to gender-based violence, migration, conflict, and digital rights.
One of the Forum’s opening discussions focused on sanitation and dignity for women and girls under the theme “From Invisibility to Accountability: Secure Sanitation as a Right for Women and Girls in Africa.” Delegates highlighted how lack of access to safe sanitation continues to expose women and girls to violence, health risks, and interrupted education across the continent.
The Forum also received alarming reports on deteriorating democratic governance and civic freedoms in several African states. Regional focal point representatives detailed increasing cases of arbitrary arrests of journalists and activists, electoral violence, humanitarian crises, and attacks on civil society actors.
Sudan emerged repeatedly during the discussions, with participants revealing that over 1,425 cases of conflict-related sexual violence had been documented amid the ongoing war. Delegates further noted that nearly 70 percent of the country’s infrastructure has reportedly been destroyed.
Other sessions focused on harmful traditional practices affecting women, the plight of migrants and internally displaced persons in North Africa, and growing attacks against advocates working on sexual and reproductive health rights.
A major highlight of the Forum was the discussion surrounding the draft Declaration on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders in Africa, which participants said is urgently needed to shield activists from intimidation, reprisals, harassment, and legal persecution.
Beyond the plenary discussions, seven Special Interest Groups held technical engagements on issues including migration, peacebuilding, gender-based violence, freedom of assembly, and discrimination based on work and descent.
At the conclusion of the Forum, participants adopted nine country-specific resolutions, seven thematic resolutions, and one thematic recommendation.
The country-specific resolutions addressed human rights situations in Burkina Faso, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Mali, Algeria, Sudan, The Gambia, Tunisia, Senegal, and Zimbabwe. The resolutions called for stronger democratic governance, accountability for abuses, protection of activists, and justice for victims of violations.
The thematic resolutions focused on civic space, xenophobia, forced displacement, sexual and gender-based violence, harmful customary practices, reparations, and protection of human rights defenders. Participants also adopted a thematic recommendation urging African states to strengthen digital rights protections, end internet shutdowns, and safeguard online civic participation.
In a passionate closing appeal, Ms Ellen Ann reminded delegates that the Forum was not only about documenting violations but also about affirming Africa’s values.
“We affirmed that Africa’s future must be built on justice, dignity, equality, accountability, and solidarity,” she declared.
She further stressed that women must shape peacebuilding efforts, defenders must not stand alone, and no African should lose their dignity because of poverty, displacement, repression, or exclusion.
As the Public Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights officially begins, civil society groups are now looking to the Commission and African governments to translate the Forum’s resolutions into concrete action.
