African Commission Launches the Implementation Committee and Call for Participation in ACPHR’s Study on Prisons in Africa
Banjul, The Gambia – 17th February 2026
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), through its Special Mechanism on Prisons, Conditions of Detention and Police Action in Africa, is inviting institutions and stakeholders to join the Implementation Committee for its landmark study on prisons and conditions of detention across the continent.
This call is being issued as the Special Mechanism on Prisons, Conditions of Detention and Police Action in Africa, officially launches the Implementation Committee, the operational body tasked with the regional “mise en oeuvre” and implementation of study activities in the respective geographies.
Anchored on the Resolution ACHPR/Res.557 (LXXV) 2023and Article 6 of the African Charter, the study will examine the root causes of human rights violations in prisons, explore alternatives to imprisonment, and propose practical reforms to make African prison systems more humane, accountable, and effective.
Rationale
Prison overcrowding, poor conditions of detention, and lack of rehabilitation remain pressing challenges across Africa. The ACHPR’s study aims to identify root causes of human rights violations and inhumane conditions in places of detention, and deliver actionable recommendations that will drive a paradigm shift in prison management, prison infrastructure, preventive maintenance and safeguard the dignity of persons deprived of liberty.
Who Can Participate
The Implementation Committee welcomes participation from:
• Legal Reforms Institutions of State Parties
• National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and members of NANHRI (selection will be made of representatives from the 5 regions)
• Civil society organizations and NGOs working on justice and prison reform (selection will be made of representatives from the 5 regions)
• Academic and research institutions
• Development Organizations
How to Apply
Interested stakeholders are invited to submit an expression of interest (maximum 2 pages) outlining relevant experience and proposed contributions, along with institutional profile to:
The Special Mechanism on Prisons, Conditions of detention and Policing of the ACHPR
Email: achpr.SMPrisons@africanunion.org
Website: achpr.au.int
Twitter : https://x.com/achpr_cadhp
Deadline: 31 March 2026
Join Us
By joining the membership of the Implementation Committee of the study on Prisons, members will play a direct role in the ACHPR’s efforts in driving human rights’-centered prison reforms, improve conditions of detention and the mitigation of human rights violation in places across Africa. Together, we can build prison systems that reflect the values of dignity, fairness, and accountability enshrined in the African Charter. In accordance with the internal rules and procedures of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, membership of the committees established for this study is strictly non‑remunerated.
