Alert to the NGO Forum and 89th session of the African Commission

AtticMedia for ISHR, with the use of MidJourney

ISHR will monitor and report on key developments at the 89thsession of the African Commission. Stay up to date by following us on X/Twitter at@ISHRglobal, or at@ISHR_frfor French content using #ACHPR89. Our staff can also be followed at@Adelaide_ISHR,@salome_ishr,@Lidawh-weD. 

Find us on Bluesky at@ishr.ch; and our staff on@lamarbk.bsky.social. 

What will the ISHR focus on? 

1. Training

As part of its mandate to strengthen the capacity of human rights defenders and support their advocacy before human rights protection mechanisms, ISHR will hold, ahead of the 89th ACHPR session, a training aimed atstrengthening the engagement of African defenders with the African Commission.

The training will gather African defenders working on a diverse range of issues such as the protection of the environment, digital rights, the protection of defenders’ rights and women’s rights. The training will be held on 6, 7 and 11October in Dakar, Senegal. 

1. NGO Forum

At the NGO Forum, ISHR will give a particular focus to the following themes:

• ‘Celebration and reflections around the 40th anniversary of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, more specifically, its achievements, implementation gaps and continued relevance to contemporary human rights and governance challenges’
• ‘Shrinking civic space and the impact of transnational repression on civil society, more specifically, restrictive legislation and administrative measures affecting the work of organisations around Africa and the need for the African Commission to draw more attention to the issue of transnational repression and take action’ 

In addition, ISHR jointly submitted two resolutions to be considered for adoption during the session of the NGO Forum. These resolutions focus on transnational repression and the violations faced by environmental defenders in Africa.  

1. 89th ordinary session

Several advocacy opportunities are available during a session of the African Commission.

The situation of human rights in Africa

Civil society organisations with observer status have the possibility to make a statement highlighting specific issues relating to the human rights enshrined in the African Charter.

It can be used to call the attention of the Commission on a specific issue or even update it on an issue previously brought to its attention.

Registerhereto deliver a statement under this item.

Panel discussions

This is an opportunity for constructive dialogue between members of the Commission and representatives of human rights organisations on issues that are not only timely but also essential to the effectiveness of human rights on the continent.

Country review

Under article 62 of the African Charter, States are obliged must report every two years on the legislative or other measures taken with a view to giving effect to the rights and freedoms recognised and guaranteed by the African Charter.

During this process, civil society organisations also have the possibility to submit shadow reports ahead of the session during which countries will be reviewed in order to inform the Commission’s recommendations and provide advice to a specific State.

Country and Special Rapporteurs mandates

• Every Commissioner’s mandate includes 5 countries in Africa. During the session, civil society organisations have the opportunity to meet with the Commissioner which has their country under its mandate. It is important to seize this moment to update the mandate on the issues specific to your country and more specifically call his attention to an issue you want him to raise with the State directly or during the session. 
• All year long, it is recommended to civil society to share information with Special Rapporteurs. During sessions, civil society organisations can make statements during the presentation of each Commissioner, including Special Rapporteurs, activity reports highlighting important issues of interest.

During this session, ISHR will deliver several statements under the following items: 

• Item 4: Human rights situation in Africa 
• Item 7: Activity reports
  • Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders and Focal Point on Reprisals in Africa;
  • Special Rapporteur on Prisons, Conditions of Detention and Policing in Africa;
  • Committee on the Protection of the Rights of People Living With HIV (PLHIV) and Those at Risk, Vulnerable to and Affected by HIV   

1. Side events 

ISHR is organising or co-organising the following side-events: 

• Protecting our environment, our land and our digital space in Africa,organised by ISHR, 11 October 2026. 
• Defending the Defenders : Confronting Reprisals Against Environmental Human Rights Defenders in Africa,co-organised by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, ISHR, CIVICUS, Norway, United Nations Human Rights Council Special Procedures, WAVE, ZELO, NATURAL JUSTICE, ABA, and IPI,  13 October 2026 from 11:00 to 13:00.
• Diasporic and African perspectives on reparations for the Transatlantic Trade in Enslaved Africans and colonialism,co-organised by Instituto de Referencia Negra peregum and ISHR, 15 October 2026. 

ISHR has also submitted shadow reports ahead of the country reviews of Cameroon, Mauritius and Zambia.

General information 

1.        NGO Forum (8-10 October) 

TheForum on the Participation of NGOsin the public ordinary sessions of the African Commission, also known as the ‘NGO Forum’, is an advocacy platform coordinated by the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS) to provide opportunity for local, national and international NGO to: 

• Share updates on the human rights situation on the continent.
• Promote advocacy on various human rights thematics. 
• Network among different stakeholders: human rights defenders, NGO, Commissioners for the promotion and protection of human rights in Africa.

Discussions at this October session will cover, among others, the African Union’s theme of the year: ‘Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063′. 

The discussion in the Forum will focus on these sub-themes: 

1. Water, sanitation, and the right to development. 
2. Civic space, governance, and democratic integrity. 
3. Natural resources, environmental justice, and climate-induced migration. 
4. Peace, security, and human rights. 
5. Social inclusion: gender, youth, and cultural rights.  

These sub-themes will be discussed during the special interests group sessions aiming at suggesting and adopting recommendations for the action of the African Commission.

The planned panels will aim to: 

• Present the status of human rights and democracy in Africa.
• Contribute in special interest group discussions.
• Facilitate networking for human rights in Africa: Sharing experiences, best practices and lessons learnt towards durable solutions for forced displacement in Africa.

During the opening ceremony of the public ordinary session of the African Commission, a representative of the steering committee of the NGO Forum publicly shares the outcomes of the sessions of the Forum, the situation of human rights in Africa, and the adopted resolutions at the NGO Forum as the contribution of NGO toward the effective implementation of human rights on the continent.

If you wish to submit recommendations or resolutions to be considered during the NGO Forum, feel free to submit it here by 5 October 2026.  

1.      89th Session Ordinary Session of the African Commission 

When:  

• Private session, virtual and closed to the public: from 21 September to 1 October 2026.  
• Public session, in-person and open to the public: from 12 to 21 October 2026.

Events are scheduled as per Senegal time, GMT.

Session Days & time:

• Mondays to Thursdays:  09:00 – 17:30
• Fridays: 09:00 – 13:30
• Sundays: 14:30 – 17:30

Where:  King Fahd Palace Hotel, Dakar, Senegal (for the Public & Open Session).

All public session documents of the 89th Ordinary Session are availablehere. 

How can you follow the session? 

Live streams of the public sessions will be available on theACHPR’s YouTube page.

Human Rights Situation in Africa(item 4)

During the session, the African Commission will hear statements from State Delegates, African Union Organs with a Human Rights Mandate, Intergovernmental and International Organisations, National Human Rights Institutions and Non-Governmental Organisations. These statements aim to provide an update on the human rights situation on the continent, highlighting progress, challenges and, above all, recommendations for improving the situation. The statements on the human rights situation will take place on 12, 13, 14, 18 and 19 October 2026. 

Panel and launches(item 5)

• Situation of Human Rights Defenders in West Africa, Monday 12 October 2026, from 16:30 to 17:30.  
• Advancing Women and Girls’ Rights Through Litigation: Launch of the Tripartite Study on Challenges Before AU Human Rights Organs, Tuesday 13 October 2026, from 09:00 to 10:00. 
• Celebrating 65 Years of the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness: Advancing the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on Specific Aspects of the Right to a Nationality and the Eradication of Statelessness in Africa, Wednesday 14 October 2026, from 09:00 to 10:00. 
• The impact of water and basic sanitation on the living conditions of prisoners in African prisons and Launch of the Newsletter on Human Rights and Policing, Wednesday 14 October 2026, from 10:00 to 11:00. 
• Study on the Impact of Climate Change on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Africa, Wednesday 14 October 2026, from 14:30 to 15:30. 

Joint Special Mechanisms Forum(item 14)

During this 89th session, the African Commission will hold its 3rd edition of the Joint Special Mechanisms Forum under the theme ‘45 Years of Adoption and 40 Years of Operationalization of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights’.

The panels of this forum represent opportunities for open dialogue between the special mechanisms of the African Commission and different other stakeholders of which the United Nations Special Procedures representatives. Several panels of this Forum will be held onTuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 October 2026.  

Activity Reports of Commissioners and Special Mechanisms(item 7)

During every session, special mechanisms from the African Commission present their activity report. These reports catalogue the activities and initiatives undertaken by each mechanism inter-sessionally. It will start on 13 October at 14.30: 

• Chairperson of the ACHPR on their activities and those of the Chairperson of the Working Group on Death Penalty and Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Killings and Enforced Disappearances in Africa.
• Special Rapporteur on the rights of women in Africa.
• Special Rapporteur on prisons, conditions of detention and policing in Africa.
• Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression and access to information in Africa.
• Special Rapporteur on refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons and migrants in Africa.
• Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders and reprisals in Africa.
• Chairperson of the Committee on the protection of the rights of people living with HIV and those at risk, vulnerable to and affected by HIV.
• Chairperson of the Working Group on the rights of older persons and people with disabilities in Africa.
• Chairperson of the Committee for the prevention of torture in Africa.
• Chairperson of the Working Group on economic, social and cultural rights in Africa.
• Chairperson of the Working Group on Indigenous populations/communities in Africa.
• Chairperson of the Working Group on extractive industries, environment and human rights violations in Africa.
• Chairperson of the Working Group on communications. 

 States periodic reports(item 10)

During this session, pursuant to Article 62 of the African Charter and State Parties’ obligation to report every two years on the legislative or other measures taken with a view to giving effect to the rights and freedoms recognised and guaranteed by the African Charter and other relevant conventions, three countries will be reviewed: 

• Cameroon: The review will be based on its report covering the period 2019-2024. The report includes its 7th to 9th periodic report on the implementation of the African Charter, 1st to 3rd periodic report on the implementation of the Maputo Protocol, 1st to 3rd periodic report on the implementation of the Kampala Convention, initial report on the implementation of the protocol to the African charter on the rights of persons with disabilities in Africa and its initial report on the implementation of the protocol to the African charter on the rights of older persons in Africa. It will take placeSaturday 17 October 2026 from 09:00 to 12:30. 
• Guinea-Bissau: The review will cover the report of the State party under the African Charter covering 1988–2025, and the periodic report under the Maputo Protocol covering 2010–2025. It will take place onSaturday 17 October 2026 from 14:30 to 17:30. 
• Mauritius:The review will be done on the basis of the 11th periodic report of the State party under the African Charter covering the period 2019-2024. It will be heldThursday 15 October 2026 from 10:00 to 13:30. 
• Zambia: The review will be based on its report covering the period 2020-2025. The report includes its 8th periodic report on the implementation of the African Charter, 1st periodic report on the implementation of the Maputo Protocol, and its initial report on the implementation of the Kampala convention, covering the period 2020-2025. It is scheduled onFriday 16 October 2026 from 09:00 to 12:30. 

For the full programme of the session, click here.

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• African Human Rights System

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