Panel 9, titled “Consolidating Achievements and Strengthening Strategies: Advancing Human Rights through the African Human Rights NGOs Forum,

Panel 9, titled “Consolidating Achievements and Strengthening Strategies: Advancing Human Rights through the African Human Rights NGOs Forum,” is currently underway. Moderated by Mr. John Gbenagnon, Senior Officer in charge of Partnership and Resource Mobilization for Sub-Saharan Africa, this session reflects on the milestones of the Forum and discusses pathways to implement the newly adopted NGOs Forum Africa Strategy 2026–2031.

Among the panelists are Madam Corlette Letlojane (Southern Africa Focal Point), Mr. Naji Moulay Lahsen (North Africa Focal Point), and Madam Melanie N.D. Sonhaye Kombate (West Africa Focal Point). Together, they are highlighting regional perspectives and sharing strategies for enhancing coordination, advocacy, and engagement with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, in line with the Forum’s vision of a just, equitable, and rights-based Africa.

𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚 𝐧 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐀𝐜𝐫𝐨 𝐬𝐬 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚’𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐛-𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

The first panel of the NGO Forum examined the current human rights and democratic landscape across Africa’s five sub-regions. Moderated by Mr. Sadikh Niass, Adviser to the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS), the session featured presentations from sub-regional focal persons who provided updates on emerging trends, challenges, and progress in their respective regions.

The panel underscored the need for stronger solidarity among civil society actors and called on African governments to uphold their obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

𝐀𝐂𝐃𝐇𝐑𝐒 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐥

The three-day training workshop for religious and traditional leaders on human rights and engaging with the African Commission concluded on Thursday afternoon with calls for stronger collaboration, moral leadership, and sustained engagement with the African human rights system.

Organized by the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS), in partnership with the Ford Foundation and Open Society Foundations, the training brought together participants from different African countries at the Kairaba Beach Hotel in Banjul.