Theme: Advancing the protection and promotion of human rights in Africa: Strengthening commitments, overcoming challenges, and reinforcing opportunities.
25 to 27 April 2024
Dakar, Senegal
15 April 2024, Banjul, The Gambia -The Secretariat of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) is pleased to unveil the upcoming inaugural Joint Forum of Special Mechanisms of the ACHPR, scheduled to take place from 25 to 27 April 2024 in Dakar, Senegal. This pioneering event, will be hosted under the theme "Advancing the protection and promotion of human rights in Africa: Strengthening commitments, overcoming challenges, and reinforcing opportunities." The Forum will serve as a platform for stakeholders to engage in joint initiatives and transversal activities addressing cross-cutting issues that underscore the interdependence of all human rights.
The primary objective of this Forum is to deepen the ACHPR's intersectional approach to human rights, reinforcing the indivisible and interrelated nature of all human rights. In pursuing this goal, the ACHPR aims to align its work with global best practices in human rights and contribute more effectively to human rights protection and promotion on the African continent, particularly within the context of the African Union's human rights and governance agenda.
The Forum will center its aims on the following objectives:
1.Reflecting on the state of human rights in Africa, assessing the progress made, identifying key challenges, and exploring how the ACHPR can enhance its contribution to human rights protection and promotion on the continent;
2.Reviewing and reflecting on the achievements and obstacles faced by the ACHPR's special mechanisms in their human rights advocacy work and developing strategies for their enhanced effectiveness;
3.Critically assessing the state of ratification and enforcement of human rights instruments, identifying gaps, and catalyzing action for enhanced protection and promotion of human rights; and
4.Fostering an exchange of experiences and promoting partnerships that bridge the gap between aspirations and realities on the ground.
Participants in this Forum will include:
1.ACHPR Commissioners and members of the Secretariat;
2.Representatives of AU Member States;
3.Representatives of the African Union Commission and African Union Organs with human rights mandates;
4.National Human Rights Institutions;
5.Civil Society Organizations and other human rights organizations;
6.Representatives of bar associations and judicial associations
7.Academics and human rights experts; and
8.Representatives of international and regional human rights bodies.
The inaugural Joint Forum of Special Mechanisms of the ACHPR signifies an important milestone in the advancement of human rights in Africa. It is an opportunity for diverse stakeholders to come together, share experiences, and cultivate collaborations aimed at fostering a continent where human rights are protected, promoted, and upheld for every individual and community.
For media inquiries and further information, please contact:
Secretariat, African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
31 Bijilo Annex Layout, Kombo North District Western Region.
PO Box 673
Banjul, The Gambia
Tel: 220 4410505/6
Fax: 220 4410504
E-mail:au-banjul@africa-union.org
Samantha Kambule
Senior Public Relations Officer
31 Bijilo Annex Layout
West Coast Region, The Gambia
Telephone: +220 441 0505/6
Cell: +220 230 4361
Email:kambules@africa-union.org
Visit us online:https://achpr.au.int
