83rd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights
INTERSESSION REPORT
Presented by
Honourable Commissioner Rémy Ngoy Lumbu
Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights
0. Introduction
1. The present report is submitted in accordance with Article 16 of the 2020 Rules of Procedure of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (the Commission). It provides an account of the activities carried out in my capacity as Chairperson of the ACHPR during the intersession period following the 81st Ordinary Session of the Commission, held from 17 October to 6 November 2024, in Banjul, the Republic of The Gambia.
I. Coordination of the Commission’s activities and supervision of the Secretariat’s work
2. In accordance with Rule 16 of the Rules of Procedure of the Commission (2020), I coordinated the activities for the promotion and protection of the members of the Commission, in addition to supervising the work of the Secretariat during the period under review. In this regard, I provided, on a daily basis, 7 days a week, all necessary guidance on various matters for the smooth running of the activities of the Commission and its Secretariat.
3. While this activity is indeed fundamental, it nevertheless bears within it the seeds of its own limitations. The system, not having been originally designed to function under a permanent Chairperson, has already exposed its functional limitations.
4. I also monitored the concluding phase of the recruitment process for the deputy executive secretary position of the Commission. As indicated in my previous report, various initiatives were undertaken to arrive at the final decision and to ensure that the Secretariat of the Commission is under complete and effective leadership. I am now pleased to announce that M. Yassine DRIANE has been appointed to this position. On behalf of the Commission, I extend our congratulations and wish him great success in his new role.
Outcome 1: Improved coordination of the intersession activities of the members of the Commission and excellent interaction between the Bureau and the Secretariat in terms of prompt decision-making and continuous, real-time sharing of relevant information, as well as the finalisation of the recruitment process for the Deputy Secretary of the Commission.
Recommendation 1: Ensure, as part of the ongoing reform of the African Union (AU) organs, the monitoring of the proposal from the Reform Unit aimed at making the position of the Chairperson permanent, in order to achieve strengthened, enhanced, and streamlined coordination.
II. Participation in the International Symposium, 6–7 December 2024
5. I participated in the International Symposium organised by the National Council for Human Rights and the Parliament of the Kingdom of Morocco, held on 6 and 7 December 2024 in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco.
6. During this Symposium, the theme of which was transitional justice processes... for sustainable reforms, I delivered a presentation on the interaction between transitional justice processes and constitutional/legislative reforms.
7. On this occasion, I addressed in particular the interactions between transitional justice and constitutional and legislative reforms, the role of transitional justice institutions, and the involvement of other stakeholders such as national parliaments. I also underscored the role of the Commission in transitional justice processes, highlighting its various initiatives in this regard, notably the designation of a Focal Point on transitional justice, the development of a study on transitional justice, and the provision of support for and facilitation of transitional justice processes and mechanisms in certain countries, such as South Sudan.
Outcome 2: Recall of the role of transitional justice institutions and their interactions with constitutional and legislative reforms.
Recommendation 2: Call upon State Parties that have established transitional justice mechanisms to implement their recommendations with a view to promoting reconciliation, sustainable development, and the prevention of recurrent human rights violations
III. Participation in the official opening of the 4th and 5th Ordinary Sessions of the permanent committees of the sixth parliament of the Pan-African
Parliament, held on 4 November 2024 and 24 February 2025 respectively
8. I participated in the official opening ceremonies of the Fourth and 5th Ordinary Sessions of the Permanent Committees of the sixth parliament of the Pan-African Parliament, held on 4 November 2024 and 24 February 2025 respectively, in Midrand, South Africa.
9. The November 2024 Session was organised under the African Union theme for 2024: “Educate an African fit for the 21st century: Building resilient education systems for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality and relevant learning in Africa.” In my keynote speech, I emphasized that this theme is a call to the States Parties and all stakeholders to join forces to ensure that every African child and youth is equipped with the knowledge, skills and opportunities to thrive in an ever-evolving global landscape.
10. With regard to the February 2025 Session, and based on the theme adopted by PAP for the committee meetings—“Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations”—I reiterated that effective justice cannot be achieved without adequate and effectively implemented reparative measures that address the specific needs of victims and remedy the harm suffered. I emphasized the need for the committees convened under this theme to engage in thoughtful deliberation on innovative strategies for establishing internal mechanisms capable of advancing justice for Africans and people of African descent through reparations.
Outcome 3: Strengthening of the institutional complementarity between PAP and the Commission.
Recommendation 3: Reinforce the institutional ties of cooperation between the two organs, particularly in the development of normative frameworks relating to the promotion and protection of human and peoples’ rights on our continent.
IV. Participation in the graduation ceremony for participants of the training programme on International Human Rights Law and the Rights of the Child– 16 January 2025, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
11. I participated in the graduation ceremony for the trainees of the 14th cohort in International Human Rights Law (IHRL) and the 4th Cohort of the Training
Programme on the Rights of the child at the Université des droits de l’homme (UDDH) (University for Human Rights), organized by the National Human Rights Council of Côte d’Ivoire, on 16 January 2025 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
12. In my keynote address, I congratulated the recipients and reminded them to use the knowledge acquired as a powerful tool to promote and protect human rights within their respective spheres of influence. I also led a session on the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, focusing in particular on its challenges and future prospects.
13. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate and thank the President of NHRC, Ms Namizata Sangare, for her leadership in the establishment of l’Université des Droits de l’Homme (Human Rights University), which is a human rights training centre, an initiative accessible to all sections of Ivorian society. knowledge of international human rights law should not be the preserve of just a few experts, but an essential foundation for all citizens with a view to promoting a culture of peace and respect for human rights.
Outcome 4: Training for various stakeholders in Ivorian society on the Commission and its mandate, and promotion of greater respect for human rights.
Recommandation 4: Sustain this initiative and replicate it in other States Parties where such training frameworks do not yet exist.
V. Participation in the Opening of the judicial year and judicial seminar of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, 4–6 February 2025, Arusha, Tanzania
14. Together with the Vice-Chairperson of the Commission, I participated in the opening of the 2025 judicial year of the African Court, held under the theme: “Advancing justice through reparations.”
15. I also took part in the judicial seminar held under the theme: “Rendering justice for women through reparations.” On this occasion, I moderated the session on the adoption of recommendations to be integrated into the African Union’s initiatives aligned with the theme of the year.
16. On the sidelines of the aforementioned seminar, I participated in the meeting between the Bureaux of the Commission and the Court, held on 6 February 2025 in Arusha, Tanzania, during the Judicial Dialogue. On this occassion we engaged in discussions on the issue of complementarity between the two organs, particulary with regard to the transfer of cases from the Commission to the Court.
17. The members of both Bureaux agreed to organize a joint retreat in order to continue their discussions on outstanding issues, with a view to achieving effective complementarity for the enhanced protection of the rights of Africans.
Outcome 5: Enhanced complementarity between the Commission and the Court and the exchange of guidance on the preparation of the joint retreat.
Recommendation 5: Pursue ongoing efforts to ensure effective complementarity between the Commission and the Court.
VI. Participation in the High-Level Segment of the 58th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, 24 February 2025, Geneva, Switzerland.
18. Upon the invitation of the President of the Human Rights Council, I participated in the High-Level Segment of the 58th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, held on 24 February 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland.
19. In my statement, I outlined the mandate of the Commission and its achievements in the promotion and protection of human rights across the continent. I also highlighted the challenges it faces and its future prospects.
20. On this occasion, I also presented an overview of the human rights situation in Africa. While acknowledging the progress made in certain areas, I expressed concern over the prevailing “charity-based” approach to human rights on the continent—where Africa is continually compelled to seek attention and support. I also lamented the persistent sound of boots and weapons, which continues to undermine regional security and has dire consequences for the enjoyment of human rights.
21. I would like to take this opportunity to extend my sincere appreciation to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), East Africa Regional Office, for all the arrangements made to facilitate my participation in this major event.
Outcome 6: Ensuring the Commission’s voice on the human rights situation on our continent is heard.
Recommendation 6: Encourage the active participation of the Commission, through its special mechanisms, during sessions of the Human Rights Council in Geneva
VII. Participation in meetings of the policy organs of the African Union and parallel meetings.
A. Participation in the meetings of the policy organs of the African Union held in January and February 2025
22. I participated, alongside other members of the Commission, in the Meetings of the policy organs of the African Union (AU), which were held both virtually and in person, as detailed below:
i. The 49th Ordinary Session of the Permanent Representatives’ Committee
(PRC), held virtually from 14 to 31 January 2025; ii. The 46th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council (EC), held on 12 and
13 February 2025 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; and iii. The 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, held on 15 and 16 February 2025, also in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
23. The delegation from the Commission, which I led, was composed of Honourable Janet Ramatoulie Sallah-Njie, Vice-Chairperson, and Honourable Commissioners Solomon Ayele Dersso, Idrissa Sow, Dr. Litha Musyimi-Ogana, and Ms. Abiola Idowu-Ojo, Secretary of the Commission. The delegation was accompanied by Ms. Eva Heza, Mr. Philbert Bayeka, and Mr. Reginald Mere, officials of the Secretariat.
24. During the 49th Ordinary Session, held virtually from 14 to 31 January 2025, I presented, on behalf of the Commission, the combined 56th and 57th Activity Reports, covering the period from 10 November 2023 to 10 November 2024.
25. The Combined Activity Report elicited numerous comments from eighteen (18) State Parties, who largely welcomed the content of the report and commended the initiatives undertaken by the Commission in fulfilling its mandate, while acknowledging the budgetary and human resource constraints it faces. Other reactions addressed both the overall human rights situation and, in some cases, contested certain findings presented by the Commission in its report.
26. During the 46th Session of the Executive Council, the Commission’s combined Activity Reports were not presented anew. Instead, they were referenced in the report submitted by the Permanent Representatives’ Committee (PRC) for review and adoption by the Executive Council. The latter, through Decision EX.CL/1573(XLVI), adopted the Commission’s 56th and 57th Activity Reports and authorized their publication. The reports are available on the Commission’s website at the following link: https://achpr.au.int/en/documents/2025-0310/56th-and-57th-combined-acti…
27. The Executive Council also adopted the draft African union convention on ending violence against women and girls.
28. We also participated in the Assembly of Heads of State and Government. The Assembly reviewed various reports, including the progress report on the institutional reform of the AU, and conducted elections for various positions within the AU, notably the Bureau of the Assembly of the AU, the AU Commission, the Commissioners, and members of various AU organs and institutions.
29. We also attended the official launch of the African Union’s Theme of the Year
2025: “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations.”
Outcome 7A: Advocacy for the adoption of the Commission’s combined activity reports and enhanced interaction with other African Union organs and State parties.
Recommendations 7A :
- Adopt the necessary measures for the ratification of the new African Union convention on ending violence against women and girls.
- Leverage participation in African Union Summits to strengthen engagement with stakeholders of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
B. Participation in side events organised in preparation for and on the margins of the AU Summit
Political meeting of the AGA-APSA Platform
30. I participated in the political meeting of the African Governance Architecture – African Peace and Security Architecture (AGA-APSA) Platform, held on 11 February 2025 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, during which we reviewed the report of the technical meeting of AGA-APSA Platform members held on 10 February 2025.
31. The meeting involved exchanges on several key points, including flagship projects planned for 2025 and their preparation, engagement with partners, and the proposed amendment to the Platform’s Rules of Procedure.
Outcome 7B: Strengthened synergy and coordination within the AGA-APSA Platform and enhanced planning of flagship initiatives for 2025.
Recommendation 7B: Continue preparing the Platform’s 2025 activities and deepen engagement with strategic partners.
C. Signing of the cooperation agreement between the Commission and AUABC, 11 February 2025, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
32. On 11 February 2025, together with Honourable Seynabou Ndiaye Diakhate, I cosigned a cooperation agreement between the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the African Union Advisory Board on Corruption (AUABC), as well as a framework document aimed at enhancing collaboration, cooperation, and coordination between the two institutions.
33. On 11 February 2025, together with Honourable Seynabou Ndiaye Diakhate, I cosigned a cooperation agreement between the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the African Union Advisory Board Against Corruption (AUABC), as well as a framework document aimed at enhancing collaboration, cooperation, and coordination between the two institutions.
Outcome 7C: Adoption of a framework aimed at strengthening the complementarity between the Commission and AUABC.
Recommendation 7C: Foster and bolster complementarity and cooperation among African Union organs to ensure improved promotion and protection of human rights across the continent.
VIII. Participation in the Promotion Mission to the Republic of Burundi
34. From 18 to 21 March 2025, I led a delegation of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) on a promotion mission to the Republic of Burundi. The delegation was composed of Honourable Commissioner Maria Teresa Manuela, Special Rapporteur on Prisons, Conditions of Detention and Policing in Africa, and Honourable Commissioner Marie-Louise Abomo, the Commissioner responsible for monitoring the human rights situation in Burundi and Chairperson of the Working Group on the Rights of Older Persons and Persons with Disabilities in Africa.
35. As with all other promotion missions conducted by the Commission, the primary objective of this mission was to assess the general human rights situation in the Republic of Burundi. To this end, we held consultations with various state and non-state actors engaged in the promotion and protection of human rights. The dialogue initiated with the various stakeholders made it possible to identify both the progress achieved and the persistent challenges that remain to be addressed.
36. A press release containing the preliminary findings of the mission is available on the Commission’s official website. A detailed report on the mission will be considered and adopted by the Commission in due course.
37. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the authorities of the Republic of Burundi for granting the Commission authorization to carry out this promotion mission in their country.
Outcome 8: Enhanced awareness among the various stakeholders—chiefly States— regarding their obligations under the African Charter and other relevant regional and international human rights instruments.
Recommendation 8: States Parties should grant the necessary authorizations to enable the Commission to undertake promotional missions within their territories.
IX. Chairing of the 82nd Ordinary Session, 25 February to 11 March 2025
38. I chaired the proceedings of the 82nd Private Ordinary Session, held virtually from 25 February to 11 March 2025. The work of this Session primarily focused on the consideration of Communications, Guidelines, Concluding Observations on States’ Periodic Reports, and other relevant reports. Several Resolutions were also reviewed and adopted. The final communiqué concluding the said proceedings, together with the concluding observations on the periodic report examined and the resolutions adopted, are available on the Commission’s website.
Outcome 9: Reduction of the backlog of pending communications and timely adoption of concluding observations in accordance with the deadlines established under the Commission’s 2020 Rules of Procedure.
Recommendation 9: Despite the advantages offered by modern information and communication technologies, it remains imperative that all the Commission's proceedings be conducted in person to ensure greater efficiency, particularly considering the increased productivity observed during in-person sessions compared to virtual meetings
X. Forum on the Participation of NGOs in the 83rd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, 28–30 April 2025, in Banjul, The Gambia (It remains to be confirmed whether virtual participation will be possible for me. If not, this section should be omitted accordingly).
39. I participated in the NGO Forum held as a prelude to the 83rd Ordinary Session of the Commission. The theme of the Forum focused on the African Union’s theme of the year: "Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations."
40. On this occasion, I delivered both the opening and closing remarks of the Forum. In my remarks, I emphasized that the theme goes beyond a mere revisiting of the past. It compels us to consider reparations not only as a matter of financial compensation but as an institutional acknowledgment of historical injustice, a recognition of the pain that has long been silenced, and a concrete commitment to transforming the structures that continue to perpetuate oppression.
41. As is customary, the Forum served as a platform for dialogue on a range of thematic issues, notably the human rights situation across the continent. Participants also engaged in discussions centered around the overarching theme, including topics such as: economic reparations, deemed essential to redress centuries of dispossession and enforced poverty; the fight against modern slavery, which—under new forms—continues to exploit millions of people, particularly in Africa; gender justice; corporate accountability, calling for businesses to answer for their roles in global exploitation chains; global solidarity, which remains vital in advancing the reparations agenda within global fora with determination and consistency; and the strengthening of policy frameworks to incorporate ambitious and sustainable reparative policies into national legislation and institutions.
Outcome 10: An overview of the state of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in Africa was established; the vital role of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) was reaffirmed, along with the formulation of recommendations addressing the identified areas of concern.
Recommendation 10: The Commission should continue to provide unwavering support to the NGO Forum as a critical platform for direct engagement with civil society organizations.
XI. Correspondence / Publication of Press Releases / Statements
42. I issued correspondence and published press releases or statements on various occasions, particularly in response to situations with an impact on human rights or during the commemoration of significant events.
43. On 10 December 2025, I issued a press release to mark the commemoration of International Human Rights Day. On that occasion, I reiterated that the promotion and protection of human rights remain central to the objectives of the African Union. I emphasized that the defence of human rights is a collective responsibility, requiring the ongoing commitment of all individuals to ensure the respect for and implementation of the rights guaranteed to every person, everywhere, by the various human rights instruments. I further reminded State Parties that, while regional and international frameworks—such as the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights—provide essential guidance, meaningful action and accountability are crucial to translating those commitments into tangible realities.
44. Together with the Commissioners responsible for monitoring the human rights situation, we issued congratulatory letters to newly elected Presidents following the elections held during the reporting period. These included H.E. Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, re-elected President of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria (24 January 2025); H.E. Mr. John Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana (19 December 2024); H.E. Mr. Duma Boko, President of the Republic of
Botswana (26 December 2024); and H.E. Ms. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, President of the Republic of Namibia.
45. On each of these occasions, we extended our best wishes for success in their respective mandates and expressed our hope for substantial progress in the promotion and protection of human rights in their countries, in accordance with the African Charter and other relevant international and regional human rights instruments to which they are parties.
46. On 22 April 2025, I issued a press release on the occasion of the passing of Pope Francis, in which I emphasized the testamentary message he left for the African continent regarding the advancement of human rights.
Outcome 11: Awareness-raising among relevant stakeholders on a variety of thematic issues, and drawing the attention of the international community to matters of concern requiring heightened vigilance and urgent action.
Recommendation 11: Call upon the various stakeholders to implement the recommendations contained in the different statements and correspondences issued by Members of the Commission.
