OBJECTIVE

• Enhance understanding of the need for reparations among NGOs, policy makers, and the public.

• Create a platform for dialogue among stakeholders, including civil society organizations, researchers, and policy makers.

• Collaborate to formulate actionable strategies for advocating reparations at local, national, and international levels.

• Share case studies and models of successful reparations initiatives from around the world.

THEMATIC FOCUS: Consequently, the Forum will also deliberate on the following sub-themes;

1. Reparations: Historical Justice and Contemporary Relevance Reparations for slavery, colonialism, and systemic racism remain central to the human rights agenda. Beyond symbolic recognition, reparations are critical for addressing intergenerational trauma, economic inequalities, and the restitution of stolen cultural heritage. Calls for restitution have grown stronger, with global advocacy demanding that reparations be integrated into development and justice frameworks.

2. Unconstitutional Changes of Government in West and Central Africa In recent years, West and Central Africa have witnessed repeated unconstitutional changes of government, including in Mali, Guinea, Chad, Burkina Faso, and Gabon. These power shifts undermine democratic principles, destabilize societies, and exacerbate human rights violations. Addressing these crises requires accountability and measures to restore trust in governance systems.

3. Shrinking Civic Space and Restrictions on Freedoms Civil society continues to face repression, with governments across Africa restricting freedoms of assembly, association, and expression. Reports from countries such as Cameroon, Ethiopia, Angola, Kenya, and Egypt highlight systematic crackdowns on human rights defenders, journalists, and NGOs. Shrinking civic space undermines the role of civil society in promoting reparative and transformative justice.

4. Elections, Democracy, and the Third-Term Phenomenon The manipulation of constitutions to allow third presidential terms has become an emerging threat to democracy in Africa. This phenomenon, observed in several states, weakens democratic institutions and erodes public trust. The Forum will highlight the human rights implications of electoral manipulation and authoritarian entrenchment.

5. Impunity for Human Rights Violations Across the continent, impunity persists for gross human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, torture, and sexual and gender-based violence. Reparations cannot be meaningful without accountability, and addressing impunity is key to ensuring non-repetition and transitional justice.

6. Environmental Rights and Protection of Indigenous Peoples Environmental degradation, climate change, and exploitation of natural resources disproportionately affect indigenous communities and marginalized groups. Land dispossession, deforestation, and extractive industries have led to widespread displacement. Linking environmental justice with reparations ensures that vulnerable communities receive redress for the destruction of their livelihoods and ecosystems.

7. People of African Descent and Reparations Diaspora communities continue to demand reparations for slavery and colonial exploitation. Global initiatives have highlighted the need for restitution, cultural recognition, and acknowledgment of the role of Africans in shaping global history. Strengthening solidarity between Africa and its diaspora is essential in advancing the reparations agenda.

8. Global Political and Economic Challenges Illicit financial flows, exploitation of natural resources, and debt burdens continue to deprive African states of critical resources for development. Reparations must be connected to global economic justice, including the fair distribution of wealth and resources.

9. Rights of Vulnerable Groups Women, youth, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and survivors of gender-based violence remain disproportionately affected by inequality and discrimination. Gender-sensitive and inclusive reparations frameworks are critical for ensuring justice that addresses the needs of all vulnerable groups.

10. The African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls The African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls, adopted as a landmark instrument, reflects the continent’s commitment to eliminating all forms of gender-based violence and harmful practices. It seeks to harmonize legal frameworks, strengthen accountability, and provide comprehensive measures for prevention, protection, and survivor-centered responses across Member States. This Convention is pivotal to advancing gender equality, human rights, and sustainable development in Africa.

Panel 1: Reparations – Justice for Africans and People of African Descent

• This panel will explore the moral, legal, and economic foundations of reparations, addressing both historical wrongs and present-day injustices. It will discuss intergenerational trauma, systemic inequalities, structural hierarchies, social stratification, Patriarchal and the restitution of cultural heritage, emphasizing how reparations can promote healing and empowerment.

Focus:

•  Historical roots of reparations: slavery, colonialism, and systemic racism.

•  Contemporary relevance: economic inequality, cultural restitution, and intergenerational trauma.

•  Practical frameworks for implementing reparations at national and regional levels.

• Multidimensional responses to historical injustice.

• persistent discriminatory practices and perceptions in societies.

Panel 2: Governance and Unconstitutional Changes of Government

Examining the recent spate of coups in West and Central Africa and their negative impact on democracy, human rights, and regional stability, this panel seek to highlight the role of civil society and regional bodies in restoring democratic legitimacy.

Focus:

• Case studies of recent coups in Mali, Guinea, Chad, Burkina Faso, and Gabon.

• Impact of unconstitutional changes on democracy, stability, and human rights.

•  Role of regional mechanisms in restoring legitimacy and accountability.

Panel 3: Civic Space Under Threat

The Forum under this panel will address the shrinking civic space across Africa, where human rights defenders, journalists, and NGOs face increased repression. It will explore strategies for safeguarding civil liberties and ensuring meaningful participation in democratic processes.

Focus:

 Shrinking freedoms of assembly, association, and expression.

• Examples from Cameroon, Ethiopia, Angola, Kenya, and Egypt.

•  Strategies for protecting civic actors and advancing advocacy under repression.

Panel 4: Democracy, Elections, and the Third-Term Syndrome

Exploring how constitutional manipulation to enable third-term presidencies undermines democracy, weakens institutions, and fuels political instability, the deliberations will examine the role of civil society in promoting transparent and fair elections.

Focus:

•  The phenomenon of third-term presidencies and constitutional manipulation.

•  Human rights consequences of electoral malpractice.

• Civil society’s role in safeguarding democracy.

Panel 5: Ending Impunity for Human Rights Violations

Highlighting the dangers of entrenched impunity for gross violations such as extrajudicial killings, torture, and sexual violence, this Panel will underscore the importance of accountability as a cornerstone for justice and meaningful reparations.

Focus:

•  Persistent impunity for extrajudicial killings, torture, and SGBV.

•  Persistent impunity for extrajudicial killings, torture, and SGBV.

•  Strengthening accountability through regional and international frameworks.

Panel 6: Environmental Justice and Indigenous Peoples’ Rights

This panel will examine the intersection of environmental degradation, climate change, and human rights, focusing on how indigenous and marginalized communities bear the brunt of exploitation. It will highlight the importance of reparations in addressing ecological harm and protecting livelihoods.

Focus:

• Environmental degradation and land dispossession.

• Impacts on indigenous peoples and vulnerable communities.

• Reparations for environmental harm and resource exploitation.

 Reparations for environmental harm and resource exploitation.

Underscoring the pivotal role of people of African descent in championing reparations, restitution, and global solidarity, the diaspora serves as both a living testament to historical injustices and a powerful force for mobilizing international advocacy, this panel will seek to strengthen Diaspora advocacy for reparations.

Focus:

• Building bridges between local African struggles and global movements.

• Amplifying African voices on the world stage through solidarity networks.

Panel 8: Global Economic Justice and Reparations

Situates reparations within broader debates on global economic justice, highlighting illicit financial flows, debt burdens, and resource exploitation. Reparations are framed as a tool for redress and redistributive justice.

Focus:

• Addressing illicit financial flows and economic exploitation.

•  Linking reparations to redistributive justice and resource sovereignty.

•  Exploring reparations as a driver of structural transformation and Agenda 2063.

Panel 9: Protecting the Rights of Vulnerable Groups

Stresses that reparations must be inclusive, gender-sensitive, and responsive to marginalized communities to foster healing, social cohesion, and human rights.

Focus:

• Addressing the needs of youth, women, persons with disabilities, rural communities.

• Ensuring inclusivity in reparations processes so no one is left behind.

• Increased awareness on the centrality of reparations in achieving justice and healing for Africans and people of African descent.

• Strengthened advocacy for accountability, governance, and the protection of human rights.

• Enhanced networking and partnerships among civil society actors.

Panel 10: The African Union Convention on Ending Violence against Women and Girls

This panel will concretely explore how the AU Convention can be leveraged to strengthen the fight against Transnational Organized Crimes (TOC). Many forms of TOC such as trafficking in persons, sexual exploitation, and contemporary forms of slavery disproportionately affect women and girls, making the Convention a vital tool for accountability and protection.

Focus:

• Strengthening legal and policy frameworks to criminalize all forms of TOC and gender-based violence.

•  Mobilizing resources and partnerships for survivor-centered services and access to justice.

• Enhancing monitoring and accountability mechanisms at national and regional levels.