The 68th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights will be held in online, from 14 April to 4 May 2021. The African Commission session will be preceded by the NGO Forum, which will be held online on 12 and 13 April 2021.
What will happen during the NGO Forum and 68th ordinary session of the African Commission?
The NGO Forum
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 (ACDHRS) 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.
Same as the last session, this session will be hosted online and will be framed around the theme “The Africa we want: the role of arts, culture and heritage in the realization of human rights and democracy in a post-COVID-19 environment”.
The general content of the Forum will cover three main thematic areas namely:
Register for the NGO Forum here.
The 68th ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
During this session, pursuant to Article 62 of the African Charter and State Parties obligation to report every two years on the legislative or other measures taken with a view to giving effect to the rights and freedoms recognized and guaranteed by the Charter, three countries will be reviewed:
During every session, special mechanisms from the African Commission present their activity report. These reports catalogue the activities and initiatives undertaken by each mechanism inter-sessionally:
For the full programme, click here.
What will ISHR do during this session?
During this session, ISHR will make several statements under Items 3 and 7:
What advocacy opportunities does the Commission offers?
The situation of human rights in Africa
Under Item 3, civil society organisations with observer status have the possibility to make a statement highlighting specific issues relating to the human rights enshrined in the African Charter. It can be used to call the attention of the Commission on a specific issue or even update the Commission on an issue previously brought to its attention.
Country review
Under article 62 of the African Charter, States are obliged to submit a report every two years on the legislative or other measures taken with a view to giving effect to the rights and freedoms recognised and guaranteed by the present Charter. During this process, civil society organisations also have the possibility to submit shadow reports ahead of the session during which countries will be reviewed in order to inform the Commission’s recommendations and provides share advices to a specific State.
Country and Special Rapporteurs mandates
How can you follow the session?
14 April 2021 – 24 April 2021 – Public Session
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qaIAghJMQEGhBzv79Pj5vQ
04 May 2021 – Closing Ceremony (Public Session)
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qaIAghJMQEGhBzv79Pj5vQ
The Ordinary Session will be live streamed on:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgwJmiMTr59J0jYZJJtfzuw
ISHR will monitor and report on key developments at the 68th ordinary session of the African Commission. Follow us on Twitter at @ISHRglobal, @ISHR_fr and at #ACHPR68. Our staff can also be followed @Adelaide_ISHR, @StephanieWamba,