Click Here to Download the Information Brochure for the NGO Forum October 2022

BANJUL, THE GAMBIA

The Forum on the Participation of NGOs in the Ordinary Sessions of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (African Commission), also known as the ‘NGOs Forum’ is an advocacy platform coordinated by the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies to promote advocacy, lobbying and networking among and between human rights NGOs, for the promotion and protection of human rights in Africa.

The NGOs Forum shares updates on the human rights situation in Africa by the African and international NGOs community with a view of identifying responses as well as adopting strategies towards the promotion and protection of human rights in the continent.

The African Union declared 2022 as “Strengthening Resilience in Nutrition and Food Security on The African Continent: Strengthening Agro-Food Systems, Health and Social Protection Systems for the Acceleration of Human, Social and Economic.

Capital Development”; 1 New evidence has shown that the persistence of the burden of malnutrition has very significant consequences for physical, mental, cognitive and physiological development of African children; hence it has become a critical human rights issue that goes far beyond the already existing volatile public health impact. At the same time, evidence shows that malnutrition leads to decreased social and economic development of nations and becomes a very important political and economic development issue.2

In a bid to keep civil society actors engaged on important continental discussions, the NGOs Forum will focus on the above mentioned theme specifically focusing on implementing commitments into action. The discussions will contribute to adopting strategies for monitoring the implementation of related Conventions and Treaties as signed by Member States

THEME

‘HUMAN RIGHTS AND GOVERNANCE IN AFRICA: A MULTI- DIMENSIONAL APPROACH IN ADRESSING CONFLICT, CRISIS AND INEQUALITY’

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the NGOs Forum is mainly to foster closer collaboration between and among NGOs and with the African Commission and other African human rights mechanisms, for the promotion and protection of human rights in Africa.

PROPOSED TOPICS AND PANELS: In the form of panel discussion, the sub-regional focal points will deliver updates on the general situation of human rights in Africa, with a focus on some of the various sub-themes of the Forum (from the last forum held in April 2022) to participants on emerging trends and case studies on the State of human rights.

Proposed topics for panel discussions include the following: 1. Democracy, rule of law, Issue of human rights defenders in the sub region. 2. Gender Based Violence, Civic space in some of the environmentally challenged states and Freedom of Expression and Good Governance in Africa. 3. Multi-sectoral approach to addressing Good Governance and Human Rights; 4. Good Governance 5. Digital rights and security 6. Africa’s free trade agreement in the context of Human Rights in the regions 7. Post- Covid others.

An investigative report by Minorities Rights Group (MRG) entitled ‘To purge the Forest by Force on the negative and devastating impact of a new form of colonialism. Information on the said report will be shared during the NGOs Forum to highlight the new form of colonialism known as ‘green colonialism’ on the Batwa community in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo following a three-year campaign by park authorities to expel them from their lands.

Recommendations from the two-day event will be forwarded to the African Commission as the contribution of African civil society to the work of the 71st Ordinary session of the ACHPR.

Various Panels in the NGOs Forum will seek to reaffirm and reiterate the importance of collaborating with NGOs in combating challenges confronting the African continent including evidence based research that reveals the centrality of NGOs in the mitigation of Conflicts, crisis and elimination of inequality..)

Recommendations from the two-day event will be forwarded to the ACHPR as the contribution of African Civil Society to the work of the 73rd Ordinary Session

The general content of the Forum will cover three (3) main thematic areas namely:

Status of Human Rights and Democracy in Africa

(update from sub-regional Focal Points on the general situation)

Special Interest Groups Discussions

(Kindly note that the list is not extensive, new interest groups are welcome)

Networking for Human Rights in Africa

(sharing experiences, best practices and lessons learnt towards durable solutions for forced displacement in Africa) A series of panel discussions on general human rights related issues will be organized within the main agenda of the NGOs Forum as well as at side events, and even extending to the margins of the Ordinary Session.

Languages:

English and French are the languages of the NGOs Forum with available simultaneous interpretation facilities.

Participants:

Representatives from African civil society/NGOs, international NGOs from Africa and beyond working on youth, democracy, human rights and the rule of law issues, academia, media, etc.

VENUE

BANJUL, THE GAMBIA

Expected Outcomes

Document general trends and Situation of human rights, democracy and rule of law in Africa.
Networking and partnership building with and amongst participants/stakeholders

Adopting Recommendations and resolutions where necessary to highlight them at the opening of the 73rd Ordinary Session.

Report of the NGOs Forum

Visa:

Participants are encouraged to make the necessary visa arrangements, where required, before departing from their respective countries to The Gambia. Where participants do not have Gambia Diplomatic Representation in their countries of residence, the ACDHRS would endeavor to facilitate the issuance of gratis visa on arrival to such participants, provided the ACDHRS is informed well in advance and provided with the requisite information to facilitate the process

Accommodation:

The African Centre would distribute negotiated room rates to participants.

REGISTRATION

All participants are required to pay a subsidized registration fee of $150.00 (one hundred and fifty Dollars) or its equivalent in Gambian Dalasis, Euros, Pounds or CFA. The said amount contributes towards expenses relating to the conference package (conference room, tea and coffee, lunch, water, interpretation equipment and interpreters’ fees, projector, documentation, stationery and other administrative logistics/support) provided during the Forum only. Furthermore, note that the said amount must be paid by ALL participants in cash at the registration desk.

For Participant Registration - Click Here

PANEL FEES

For Panel Request - Click Here

Administrative Fees for side events:

Some duties, amongst others that will be undertaken by the African Centre include booking of meeting venue, distribution of invitation letters, registration of participants, booking and confirmation of interpreters (if any), facilitate purchase of stationery (if any), prepare folders, prepare name tags, badges, tying of banner, planning sitting position, distribute documentation, photocopying, etc.

However, if the African Centre is informed of the organization of the side event only for its information, then the Partner would not be required to pay the administrative fee.

Please disseminate this information to your networks as widely as possible

For further informations or clarifications, contact:

Adama Cooper-Jah

Administrator ACDHRS

+220 4462341

admin@acdhrs.org

Yankuba Keita

Assistant Documentation and Communication ACDHRS

+220 3955858

library@acdhrs.org