The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission), meeting at its 85th Ordinary Session, held from 7th to 30 October 2025 in Banjul, The Gambia;
Recalling its mandate under Article 45 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Charter) to promote and protect human and peoples’ rights;
Further recalling its Resolution ACHPR/Res.51(XXVIII)2000 on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples’ Communities in Africa, which established the Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities in Africa (the Working Group) and mandated it to undertake studies and research on the implications of the African Charter for Indigenous Populations/Communities in Africa;
Recalling its Resolution, ACHPR/Res.65(XXXIV)2003 on the Adoption of the “Report of the African Commission’s Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities,” which constituted the Commission’s first comprehensive mapping of Indigenous communities on the continent;
Also recalling its Resolution ACHPR/Res.334(EXT.OS/XIX)2016), on Indigenous Populations/Communities in Africa, which expressed concern over the deteriorating situation of Indigenous populations, including forceful evictions, discrimination, and socio-economic marginalization, and urged States to adopt policies and legal frameworks to protect Indigenous cultures, languages, lands, and livelihoods;
Recalling further its Resolution ACHPR/Res.430(LXV)2019 on the Recognition, Promotion and Protection of Indigenous Languages, which underscores the importance of legal recognition and documentation of Indigenous languages—activities that inherently rely on identifying and mapping the communities that speak them;
Noting that the Working Group has commenced work towards the development of a Study on Mapping of Indigenous Populations and Communities in Africa, updates and supplements the Commission’s 2003 Report, and has undergone technical review by the expert members of the Working Group, and that the next step, in accordance with established Commission practice, is comprehensive stakeholder validation and consultation;
Affirming the importance of inclusive stakeholder engagement, including Member States, Indigenous Peoples, civil society organizations, and other relevant actors, to ensure the legitimacy, quality, and impact of Commission studies and guidelines;
THE COMMISSION:
1. Mandates the Working Group to continue with the work associated with the conduct of the study of mapping of indigenous Populations and Communities in Africa;
2. Requests the Working Group, with the support of the Secretariat, to facilitate an inclusive stakeholder validation process for the draft Study, including by circulating the Study for comments, organizing validation meetings or consultations, and ensuring the participation of Member States, Indigenous communities, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders;
3. Calls upon all stakeholders, including Member States, National Human Rights Institutions, Indigenous communities, and civil society organizations, to actively participate in the validation and consultation process and to provide constructive feedback to enhance the quality of the Study;
Done during the 85th Ordinary Session, held from 7th to 30 October 2025 in Banjul, The Gambia
