56th and 57th Combined Activity Reports

I. SUMMARY 

1. The 56th and 57th Combined Activity Reports of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission or the ACHPR) are presented to the Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU), in accordance with Article 54 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (the African Charter) and cover the period from 10 November 2023 to 10 November 2024. 

2. The activities presented in this Report, that the Commission undertook during the period under review, are geared towards achieving the priority areas set out in the Commission's 2021-2025 Strategic Plan. Accordingly, the Commission’s statutory meetings were devoted, in particular, to strengthening the protection mandate by processing Communications on alleged human rights violations, thereby reinforcing the Commission's implementation of its mandate to protect human and peoples' rights. This mandate is further strengthened by the Commission's interventions on urgent and pressing human rights issues through urgent appeal letters, press releases, resolutions and letters of commendation.  

3. It also includes activities relating to better promotion of human rights on the continent, as required by the African Charter.  

4. The activities carried out by the Commission’s Special Mechanisms and the consideration of Reports of States Parties to the African Charter on the implementation of the rights and freedoms enshrined in the African Charter, have contributed to the improvement of national legal and institutional frameworks for the promotion and protection of rights at national level through the adoption of new laws, the revision of existing laws and the creation or reform of relevant institutions in States Parties. The Report also presents issues relating to the Commission’s finances, staffing and functioning, as well as the Commission's recommendations on the human rights situation on the continent.