Human Rights Watch is honored to present its statement to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights during the 81st Ordinary Session. This occasion represents a vital opportunity to highlight urgent human rights concerns across the African continent, from freedom of expression and protection of political liberties to gender equality and the rights of marginalized communities. Through this statement, HRW advocates for concrete actions by African governments and regional institutions to honor their legal and moral commitments.
HRW African Commission: Defending Freedom of Expression
Freedom of expression remains under threat in several African countries, where journalists, activists, and dissenting voices face harassment, arrest, or even violence. HRW’s statement urges the Commission to support legal reforms that guarantee press freedom, repeal restrictive laws, and protect media workers. Highlighting cases of intimidation and censorship, the organization calls for independent oversight mechanisms and meaningful accountability for violations. These steps are crucial to foster open and vibrant public discourse.
HRW African Commission: Protection of Political Rights
Peaceful political participation is another central theme in HRW’s statement. The organization stresses the Commission’s role in urging states to uphold fair electoral processes, remove barriers to voter registration, and investigate abuses aimed at suppressing political dissent. Strengthening democratic institutions and promoting civic education can enhance citizens’ trust in governance and reduce the risk of political violence.
Addressing Gender-Based Abuses
Endemic gender-based violence, including domestic abuse, sexual violence, and harmful cultural practices, demands urgent attention. Human Rights Watch calls on the Commission to advocate for comprehensive national action plans, survivor-centered support services, and enforcement of existing protections. The statement emphasizes that empowering women and girls through legal reforms and community awareness is essential to achieving gender justice in Africa.
Source: Human Rights Watch
Promoting Rights of Marginalized Communities
HRW’s statement also shines a spotlight on the rights of marginalized communities—such as indigenous peoples, LGBTQ+ individuals, and persons with disabilities—who continue to face discrimination and exclusion. The African Commission is urged to push member states to ratify international conventions, implement inclusive policies, and protect the rights of those whose voices are often unheard. By adopting anti-discrimination laws and inclusive public policies, African nations can take significant steps toward justice and equity.
Mauritius Civic Lens offers valuable local perspectives on these challenges and the need for awareness campaigns that foster inclusion and acceptance.
Strengthening Human Rights Accountability
Accountability is fundamental for ensuring that rights are upheld. HRW encourages the African Commission to reinforce mechanisms that allow individuals and groups to report abuses effectively, investigate allegations promptly, and prosecute perpetrators. Strengthening regional bodies, enhancing cooperation with civil society, and supporting independent national institutions are key to establishing a credible system of safeguards.
Leveraging Regional Cooperation for Human Rights
Finally, the statement recommends enhanced regional collaboration among African states and institutions. HRW emphasizes that joint efforts—such as shared monitoring of rights abuses and collective diplomatic pressure—can amplify the impact of human rights protection across the continent. The Commission is urged to facilitate knowledge-sharing, coordinate training programs, and support priority initiatives that address common challenges like conflict-related abuses and systemic discrimination.
Source: Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch Africa: Advocacy for Justice Across the Continent
At the 81st Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Human Rights Watch Africa reiterated its unwavering commitment to promoting and protecting fundamental freedoms across the continent. The organization emphasized its concern over the worsening human rights conditions in several African nations, including crackdowns on civil society groups, unlawful detentions, and violations of freedom of expression. Governments such as those in Ethiopia, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo were urged to uphold their obligations under the African Charter. Read the full HRW statement.
Systematic Repression and Silencing of Dissent
One of the most alarming issues highlighted by Human Rights Watch was the ongoing repression of political activists, journalists, and human rights defenders in multiple states. Security forces have repeatedly been used to stifle dissent, disrupt protests, and restrict access to information. In some countries, opposition leaders face arbitrary arrests, and journalists report on daily threats to their safety. The statement calls for the African Commission to intervene, urging state actors to respect the rule of law and protect fundamental rights. Such systemic suppression weakens not just democratic institutions, but also public trust.
Urgent Focus on Conflict-Affected Regions
The statement gave special attention to regions engulfed in conflict, such as Tigray in Ethiopia and parts of Cameroon, where war crimes and crimes against humanity may have been committed. In these areas, Human Rights Watch Africa stressed the importance of independent investigations and accountability mechanisms. Without justice for survivors of abuse, peace and stability remain elusive. The African Union and regional bodies were encouraged to partner with international actors to ensure that victims receive reparations and perpetrators are prosecuted.
Key Human Rights Priorities in Africa – Summary
- Freedom of speech and assembly must be protected.
- Unlawful detentions and arbitrary arrests should be condemned.
- State-sanctioned violence against activists must end.
- Judicial independence is vital for a functioning democracy.
- Humanitarian access must be guaranteed in conflict zones.
For more updates on African human rights developments, visit our internal news hub.
HRW African Commission: Emphasizing Accountability in Conflict Zones
At the HRW African Commission address, the organization reiterated the urgent need for accountability in ongoing conflict zones across the continent. The commission was urged to take concrete steps in investigating abuses, particularly in regions such as Tigray in Ethiopia, North-West and South-West Cameroon, and conflict-affected areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo. HRW emphasized that silence or inaction by the commission would only embolden perpetrators and further erode public trust in African institutions.
These concerns were supported by robust documentation presented by HRW field researchers, as well as victim testimonies gathered over several months. HRW also proposed that a special mechanism be established to track and report on state compliance with recommendations issued by the African Commission in past sessions.
HRW African Commission: Upholding Women’s and Children’s Rights
The HRW African Commission intervention also shone a spotlight on the violations endured by women and children, especially in displacement settings. HRW presented data highlighting increased reports of sexual and gender-based violence in refugee camps, exacerbated by lack of security and access to justice. The commission was called upon to issue an urgent resolution pressuring states to improve protective measures for vulnerable populations.
HRW further encouraged the commission to work collaboratively with local women’s rights organizations and health providers to ensure that victims receive holistic care. Importantly, HRW argued that the commission’s silence on these violations would only deepen the impunity enjoyed by perpetrators in both state and non-state entities.
HRW African Commission: Defending Freedom of Expression and Civic Space
In its appeal to the HRW African Commission, Human Rights Watch highlighted a disturbing trend of shrinking civic space across the continent. Governments in countries such as Uganda, Zimbabwe, and Algeria have passed legislation targeting independent media, NGOs, and opposition figures under the guise of national security or anti-terrorism.
HRW urged the African Commission to issue a strong communiqué denouncing these practices and to support the work of civil society actors who are risking their safety to uphold democratic principles. As part of its recommendations, HRW called for the reactivation of the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa and the creation of a regional emergency fund for journalists and human rights defenders under threat.
HRW African Commission: A Call for Strengthening Regional Human Rights Mechanisms
Lastly, HRW underscored the importance of empowering regional human rights mechanisms through its intervention at the HRW African Commission. It called for better funding, transparency, and autonomy for the African Commission to effectively carry out its mandate. HRW emphasized that without institutional strengthening, the commission’s ability to implement its decisions and maintain credibility would be compromised. The organization also proposed a joint follow-up framework with the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights to ensure states comply with regional rulings and recommendations. Furthermore, HRW recommended the integration of civil society reporting into all sessions, making them more inclusive and evidence-driven.
Source: Human Rights Watch – www.hrw.org
