By Kebba AF Touray
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) is gearing up for its second joint special mechanism forum in the Gambia from 6 to 5 May 2025.
The ACHPR made the above disclosure in a press release issued on Tuesday, 15 April 2025.
According to the release, the forum will be held on the theme: “Human Rights as an Imperative for People-centred Sustainable Development in Africa” and will bring together key stakeholders from across the continent.
According to the Rights Commission, “the event aims to foster meaningful dialogue and collaboration between Governments, Universities, Civil Society Organizations, Human Rights Defenders and Development Partners, to explore the essential role of human rights in advancing sustainable development across Africa.’’
As indicated by the ACHPR, the forum will underscore the importance of a people-centred approach to development, which prioritises the dignity, rights, and well-being of African citizens as the foundation for long-term social, economic, and environmental progress. Discussions will revolve around the intersection of human rights, development, and the implementation of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, with a particular focus on promoting inclusivity, justice, and equality.
Participants, according to the rights commission, will have the opportunity to engage in constructive exchanges on the need to bridge the gap between human rights and sustainable development by sharing best practices and lessons learned, and strategies for overcoming challenges.
“The forum is expected to feature interactive discussion which would lead to voices in human rights, governance and sustainable development, as well as offer insight into how human rights principles can be integrated into development policies and practices,” the ACHPR press release stated.
The rights commission added that stakeholders will engage in open dialogue with Commissioners and mandate holders for the various Special Mechanism, to address the current human rights challenges in Africa, and will brainstorm actionable solutions to achieve people-centred development; that the forum will bring together officials from the ACHPR such as Commissioners and Members of the Secretariat, representatives of AU Member States and the African Union Commission and representatives from the African Union Organs with human rights mandates, and National Human Rights Institutions; that participants will also include Civil Society and other Human Rights Organizations, representatives of Bar and Judicial Associations, academia and Human Rights Experts.
“The 2nd Joint Special Mechanisms Forum marks a significant step in fostering a shared commitment to both human rights and sustainable development across Africa,” the ACHPR release said, adding that by promoting a better understanding of human rights as an essential pillar for development, “the forum aims to build stronger, more resilient societies that place people at the heart of Africa’s future growth.’’
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights is an independent body established by the African Union to promote and protect human rights across the continent. Through its various mechanisms, the Commission works to ensure that African states uphold the rights enshrined in the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
