ACHPR

• Advocacy at African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Arusha, Tanzania

  

  On the margins of the 77^th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) held in Arusha, Tanzania, CIVICUS, through the Consortium for Human Rights and Media in Sub-Saharan Africa (CHARM) project hosted a side event on Environmental Rights and Human Rights Defenders in Africa on 21 October 2023. The event, hosted in collaboration with partners under the Environmental Rights Legal Framework Coalition in Africa, was attended by 111 activists, civil society representatives and grassroots organisers.

• African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) reaches 30-year milestone but challenges remain

  November 15 marked the last day of the 61^st Ordinary Session of the ACHPR taking place in Banjul, The Gambia as the Commission celebrates 30 years of advancing human rights in Africa.

• From Crisis to Collective Action: A Message from CIVICUS Co-Secretary Generals

  A message from Interim Co-Secretary Generals, Claire Nylander and Mandeep Tiwana   

  Dear CIVICUS members,partners and allies

  A lot hastranspired in the first few months of2025.Even as authoritarian populists and their hardline supportershave made seriousattempts to undermine the quest forpeace, justice, equality, social cohesion andenvironmental sustainability, civil society resistance is hard at work.We may be living in times of hateful warmongering, unendinggreed and casual crueltybut history shows us that ultimately truthtriumphs and mightdoesn’t make right. 

  Many of usin civil societyhave been negativelyimpacted by abrupt funding cuts andabout turnsinpublic policy. In response, CIVICUS has joinedanopen letter to allies and supportersurging supportforlocal civil society actors,reimagininginternational development by addressing structural imbalances andbuilding a new culture of global solidarity thatrecognises the contributions of civil society.The letterhighlights howcurrent international aid cuts are a part of a deeper crisis in the system thatputspolitical cycles ahead of community needs andmarginalises local leadership.The letter callson decision makersto shift power andfund differently.Do sign the letter if you can. 

  In line with our members’ feedback, we are continuing oursolidarityseries on shifting resourcing landscapes. The series which began in Marchthis yearwith reflections on theCIVICUS survey and the importance of non-financial resources, continued in April with a panel discussion on responding to funding cutswhileexploringalternative models like community philanthropy. These monthly gatherings are open spaces for connection, idea-sharing and mutual support. Upcoming sessions are scheduled for21 May,18 June and23 July. Join us andlet’s build resilience together. 

  The 2025 State of Civil Society Report  

  The recently published2025State of Civil Society report paints a vivid picture of a world faced with deepening crises fromthe breakdown of the rules based international order amidthe inhumanity ofwars inGaza, Sudan and Ukraine, state capture of institutions by oligarchs in the US and beyond,undermining of democraticnorms andthe rise ofauthoritarianism,attacks on sexual and reproductive freedoms by anti-rights forcesandclimate inaction driven byavarice.Against this backdropof intensifying challenges, the report highlightshow civil society continues topush for change through strategic litigation,mass mobilisation and international solidarity referencing eventsinplaces as diverse asBangladesh, Greece,Guatemala,Kenya andSouth Korea.The report underscores the urgent need to reimagine civil society to better withstandcontemporary challenges. It calls for adopting a movement mindset and enhancedfocus onpublic facingnarrativeswith a shift towards community engagement, sharedleadership and authenticallyequitable partnerships.  

  Key updates from our Teams  
  We are excited to announce thelaunch of the Protest Lab, a new initiative under the Freedom of Peaceful Assembly (FoPA) workstream aimed at reimagining and strengtheningthe right topeaceful protest. This global hub will bring together activists, artists, and changemakers. The Lab is open to members from the Global South, with a strong emphasis on youth and frontline actors. Read more here.

  
  CIVICUS was also active at the83rd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR)from2-22 Mayin Banjul. Our focus included defending civic space, supporting human rights defenders under the#StandAsMyWitness campaign, spotlightingtheDemocraticRepublic oftheCongo, Ethiopia, and Zimbabwe. We engaged with commissioners and co-hosting discussions on civic space monitoring. Read our advocacy prioritieshere. 

  The newDigital Democracy Initiative's synthesis report examines how civil society is negotiating the digital age in sixdifferent parts of the world,encountering both opportunity and oppression. From innovative digital participation in East Asia to censorship inMiddle-East and North Africa (MENA), the report highlights the diverse realities shaping digital democracy today. Itprovides practical advice for enhancing inclusive democracy and bolstering civil society's digital capabilities.  

  ENSURED’s new research report co-authored by CIVICUS Senior Research Specialist, Inés Pousadela and Researcher, Samuel King, examines the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) and its support mechanisms, highlighting the growing challenges that threaten the Council’s credibility and impact. These include membership by persistent human rights violators, the lack of enforcement of human rights standards, reduction in accessfor civil society, and acute financial shortages.  

  As we count down toInternational Civil Society Week (ICSW) 2025, we do so with purpose and anticipation. From1–5 November in Bangkok, ICSW will be a space to reconnect, celebrate citizen action, and co-create bold solutions for democracy, rights, and inclusion. This year’s theme,“Celebrating Citizen Action: Reimagining Democracy, Rights, and Inclusion for Today’s World,” encourages us toact on our aspirations.To help shape theevent, we invite you tosubmit your session ideashere.  

  In solidarity and gratitude, 

  Claire Nylander and Mandeep Tiwana

• The situation of environmental human rights defenders across Africa continues to be dire

  CIVICUS statement at the 77th Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights   

  Agenda Item 3 (Human rights situation in Africa)

  Statement on the situation of environmental human rights defenders in Africa

  Delivered by Paul Mulindwa 

  Global civil society alliance CIVICUS and partners under Environmental Rights Legal Framework Coalition congratulate the Chair, on your re-election for the 2^nd mandate as the chair of the Commission, and we commit to a continued collaboration. We welcome this opportunity to address the African Commission on the situation of environmental human rights defenders in Africa.

  Honourable Chairperson, the situation of environmental human rights defenders across Africa in 2023 continues to be dire, in the face of ever-increasing environmental degradation, natural disasters caused by the effects of climate change, and abuses against vulnerable communities for profit or so-called progress. Increased armed conflicts and insecurity have left communities in extractive areas particularly vulnerable to abuses without safe access to courts or remedy.

  Between January 2015 – March 2023, the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre tracked more than 4,700 global attacks against human rights defenders raising concerns about harmful business practices, with 75% of these attacks being against environmental human rights defenders. 431 of the attacks documented were against defenders in Africa, including 68 attacks in 2022 and 2023.

  Despite the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and subsequent instruments recognising most of the rights affected by climate change, many vulnerable communities including Indigenous Peoples  are adversely affected. Yet, in 2023, many African governments still face significant challenges in the implementation and enforcement of such frameworks.

  The closing of civic space through restrictive legislation, judicial harassment, intimidation and attacks against indigenous peoples, civil society organisations, media actors, and environmental and land defenders create real barriers for progress. Increases in attacks against human rights defenders and communities has been exacerbated by harmful business practices across the continent.

  The lack of regulation and accountability for violations of environmental rights and environmental degradation, and against environmental defenders, particularly by the business sector, jeopardises Africa’s vision 2063 for prosperous sustainable development in a continent-wide free trade area.

  CIVICUS also commends the Commission for passing its Resolution on Business and Human Rights in Africa (ACHPR/Res.550 (LXXIV) 2023) as a critical first step in regional implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and advancing the business and human rights agenda and notes the urgent need for the establishment of a regional instrument for accountability for corporate entities for environmental abuses.

  Honourable Chairperson, we therefore urge the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to:

  1. Adopt a resolution for the drafting of a regional instrument for the protection of  Environmental Rights in Africa.
  2. Expedite the process of the drafting of an African Regional Instrument to Regulate the Activities of Transnational Corporations and other Business Enterprises, towards ensuring accountability and access to remedy for business-related human rights violations in Africa, with particular focus on marginalized and vulnerable populations, in accordance with Resolution on Business and Human Rights in Africa (ACHPR/Res.550 (LXXIV) 2023).
  3. Adopt a resolution for a moratorium on resource extraction activities in conflict and fragile state in Africa.