PRESS RELEASE: The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Concludes its Mission to Geneva, Switzerland
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) successfully concluded its mission to Geneva, Switzerland, from 22 to 26 March 2026, conducted on the margins of the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The mission aimed to strengthen engagement with United Nations mechanisms and advance efforts relating to the human rights situation in the Republic of Sudan.
The Commission’s delegation was led by Honorable Commissioner Idrissa Sow, Chairperson of the ACHPR, and included Honorable Commissioner Hatem Essaiem, Vice-Chairperson of the ACHPR and Chairperson of the Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan, as well as Honorable Commissioner Salma Sassi, member of the Mission, with the support of the Secretariat.
During the mission, the Commission held a series of high-level meetings with key partners, including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Sudan Desk, the United Nations Human Rights Council Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan, United Nations Special Procedures, as well as representatives of Member States and diplomatic missions in Geneva.
The delegation also engaged with the African Group Ambassadors in Geneva, providing an update on the progress of the work of the Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan, and exploring ways to strengthen coordination and support for the implementation of the Mission’s recommendations.
In addition, the Commission participated in a technical meeting with United Nations Special Procedures and held several bilateral meetings with various stakeholders, including representatives of the Government of Sudan and members of the diplomatic community.
A key highlight of the mission was the organization of a side event entitled “Sudan in Crisis: Protection and Accountability Through UN–African Connectivity,” which brought together African and United Nations human rights mechanisms, as well as civil society representatives, to discuss ways to strengthen coordination, enhance the protection of civilians, and promote accountability for violations committed in the context of the conflict.
The Commission also held a meeting with the Sudan Core Group, composed of the diplomatic missions of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Norway, Ireland, as well as the representative of the European Union Mission in Geneva. This meeting enabled the delegation to present the work of the Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan and to underscore the importance of strengthening coordination with United Nations mechanisms, as well as the essential role of the Commission in documenting violations and promoting accountability.
The Commission further participated in a high-level event commemorating the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, during which a statement was delivered by the Chairperson of the Commission, reaffirming the ACHPR’s commitment to promoting human dignity, preserving historical memory, and addressing the injustices stemming from this tragedy.
Throughout the mission, the Commission reaffirmed the importance of complementarity between regional and international mechanisms and emphasized the need to strengthen cooperation with United Nations partners to ensure that efforts to document violations translate into concrete measures for the protection of civilians and the promotion of accountability. In this regard, the Commission highlighted the relevance of the Addis Ababa Roadmap as a framework for strengthening structured coordination between African and United Nations human rights mechanisms, particularly in the context of the situation in Sudan.
