The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission) meeting at its 83rd Ordinary Session held from 2 to 22 May 2025 in Banjul, The Gambia:
Recalling its mandate of promotion and protection of human and peoples’ rights in Africa, pursuant to Article 45 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Charter);
Taking note of Articles 10 and 11 of the African Charter, which guarantee the rights to freedom of association and freedom of assembly;
Noting further that the African Commission's Guidelines on Freedom of Association and Assembly in Africa, adopted in 2017 (the Guidelines), require that any legal framework established or other measures taken in relation to the rights to freedom of association and assembly be primarily aimed at enabling the exercise of the rights as provided for in the Guidelines;
Bearing in mind Resolution ACHPR/Res.571 (LXXVII) 2023 on the need to undertake a study to assess the level of compliance of national legislations with the Guidelines on Freedom of Association and Assembly in Africa, which tasked the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders and Focal Point on Reprisals in Africa to undertake the said study in collaboration with the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, under the Addis Ababa Roadmap;
Considering that the one (1) year deadline set for the completion of the study has expired in November 2024, while the said study has not yet been finalised;
Aware of the need to consolidate and finalise the research conducted as part of the study;
The Commission decides to extend the deadline for the completion of the study by one (1) year.
Done in Banjul, The Gambia on 22 May 2025
