Annual Activity Report 2025 Strengthening Human Rights through Regional Cooperation and Collective Action

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CIDH AFRICA is pleased to present its Annual Activity Report for 2025, reflecting a year marked by sustained engagement, institutional consolidation, and reinforced regional and international presence in the field of human rights.

In a global and continental context characterized by persistent human rights challenges, shrinking civic space, growing inequalities, and emerging technological and security-related risks, CIDH AFRICA continued to affirm its role as an independent, credible, and principled human rights actor. Guided by international human rights law and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Network pursued a strategy centered on constructive dialogue, regional cooperation, and collective civil society action.

Consolidating an Independent Human Rights Voice in Africa

Throughout 2025, CIDH AFRICA strengthened its institutional positioning as a regional platform dedicated to the promotion, protection, and advancement of human rights across North Africa and beyond. Rooted in independence, impartiality, and accountability, the Network pursued an approach that combines advocacy, capacity building, and structured engagement with regional and international human rights mechanisms.

The year was marked by intensified interaction with African Union institutions, United Nations mechanisms, academic actors, and civil society organizations. CIDH AFRICA actively contributed to policy discussions, thematic debates, and consultative processes aimed at reinforcing rights-based governance, protecting vulnerable groups, and enhancing the role of civil society in shaping human rights agendas at national, regional, and global levels.

Structured Engagement with Regional and International Mechanisms

CIDH AFRICA maintained a sustained presence within key African and international human rights platforms in 2025. The Network actively participated in the 85th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, as well as the African Human Rights NGOs Forum, engaging in panel discussions, thematic exchanges, and coordination meetings with civil society actors from across the continent.

At the international level, CIDH AFRICA took part in multiple United Nations processes, including the 58th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, the UN General Assembly multi-stakeholder hearing, and thematic consultations on refugees, trafficking in persons, and the right to development. These engagements reinforced CIDH AFRICA’s commitment to multilateralism and to amplifying African civil society perspectives within global human rights deliberations.

A notable milestone in 2025 was the nomination of CIDH AFRICA’s Executive Director to the Governing Council of an African institution, reflecting recognition of long-standing expertise and reinforcing the Network’s institutional standing within continental governance and policy frameworks.

Advocacy, Dialogue, and Thematic Priorities

CIDH AFRICA’s advocacy throughout the year addressed a wide range of thematic priorities, including the right to education, reparative justice, youth, peace and security, refugees’ rights, sustainable development, cultural rights, human trafficking, and the human rights implications of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

The Network co-organized and participated in international conferences, expert panels, and side events in Geneva, Dakar, Oslo, Malabo, and other strategic locations. These initiatives fostered dialogue among civil society actors, academics, policymakers, and international experts, while promoting rights-based solutions aligned with Agenda 2063 and global development commitments.

CIDH AFRICA also engaged with media platforms, including national television in The Gambia, and held exchanges with journalists and academic institutions to strengthen public awareness and promote informed discourse on human rights issues across Africa.

Civil Society Empowerment and Capacity Building

Capacity building remained a core pillar of CIDH AFRICA’s action in 2025. The Network organized and contributed to training sessions and academic lectures targeting youth, students, activists, and civil society organizations. These initiatives focused on international and regional human rights mechanisms, advocacy tools, and institutional engagement, aiming to empower new generations of human rights defenders and strengthen civic participation.

CIDH AFRICA’s work with youth and academic institutions, including sessions held in Geneva and Laayoune, reflected a continued commitment to education, knowledge-sharing, and the promotion of inclusive civic spaces.

Regional Presence and Institutional Partnerships

CIDH AFRICA continued to strengthen its regional presence through high-level institutional engagements, including meetings with government authorities, regional consultations, and facilitated visits by international delegations. The high-level NGO delegation visit to Laayoune illustrated the Network’s role in fostering dialogue, observation, and cooperation between civil society and public institutions at regional levels.

Through its extensive network of partner organizations, CIDH AFRICA reinforced coordination, solidarity, and collective advocacy, contributing to stronger civil society engagement across North Africa and the African continent.

A Year of Impact and Projection

The activities carried out in 2025 reflect CIDH AFRICA’s sustained commitment to advancing human dignity, justice, and equality through principled advocacy and constructive engagement. By reinforcing dialogue with regional and international mechanisms, supporting civil society actors, empowering youth, and promoting rights-based approaches to development and governance, the Network has continued to play an active role in shaping human rights discourse in Africa.

Looking ahead, CIDH AFRICA remains firmly dedicated to strengthening its institutional impact, expanding partnerships, and contributing to collective efforts aimed at building a more just, inclusive, and rights-respecting Africa. Guided by independence, integrity, and solidarity, the Network will continue to engage with stakeholders at all levels to promote human rights as a foundation for peace, development, and social cohesion.

Message from the Executive Director

The year 2025 marked an important chapter in the evolution of CIDH AFRICA as an independent regional network committed to the promotion and protection of human rights across Africa. In a context shaped by geopolitical tensions, social inequalities, democratic fragilities, and rapid technological change, the defense of human dignity has remained both an urgent responsibility and a shared collective endeavor.

Throughout the year, CIDH AFRICA continued to assert its role as a credible and principled civil society actor, grounded in international human rights law and guided by the values enshrined in the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Our actions were driven by a clear conviction: that sustainable peace, inclusive development, and accountable governance cannot be achieved without the full respect of fundamental rights and freedoms.

In 2025, the Network strengthened its engagement with African and international human rights mechanisms, participating actively in the work of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the United Nations Human Rights Council, and other multilateral platforms. These engagements enabled CIDH AFRICA to contribute constructively to policy dialogue, amplify African civil society perspectives, and support collective efforts to address persistent and emerging human rights challenges.

At the same time, we continued to prioritize dialogue, cooperation, and capacity building. By engaging with civil society organizations, academic institutions, youth, media professionals, and public authorities, CIDH AFRICA sought to reinforce inclusive approaches to human rights advocacy and to support the development of informed, resilient, and engaged civic actors. Our initiatives throughout the year reflected a commitment to strengthening cooperation across regions and sectors, recognizing that progress in human rights is built through shared responsibility and sustained collaboration.

The recognition of CIDH AFRICA’s leadership and expertise at regional and continental levels in 2025 further reinforced our institutional standing and responsibility. It also underscored the importance of independence, integrity, and professionalism in human rights work, particularly in complex and evolving environments.

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to our partners, member organizations, human rights defenders, and institutional counterparts for their trust, engagement, and continued cooperation. Their dedication and resilience remain a source of inspiration and a driving force behind our collective efforts.

As we look ahead, CIDH AFRICA remains firmly committed to advancing human dignity, equality, and justice across Africa. Guided by the principles of independence, impartiality, accountability, and solidarity, the Network will continue to engage constructively with all stakeholders and to contribute to building a more just, inclusive, and rights-respecting future for the continent.

Dr. Naji Moulay Lahsen | Executive Director

The Network of the Independent Commission for Human Rights in North Africa (CIDH AFRICA)

CIDH Afrique, 2025 Rapport .pdf

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CIDH Africa, 2025 Report .pdf

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