{"id":12116,"date":"2023-07-27T15:30:33","date_gmt":"2023-07-27T15:30:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beratung.vamtam.com\/?p=12116"},"modified":"2025-12-23T18:58:50","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T18:58:50","slug":"analyst-it-support","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thembomefoundation.org\/?p=12116","title":{"rendered":"African Commission: Alert to NGO Forum and 85th Ordinary Session"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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The NGO Forum\u00a0<\/b><\/h4>

The Forum on the Participation of NGOs<\/a>\u00a0in ordinary sessions of the African Commission, also known as the \u2018NGO Forum\u2019, is an advocacy platform coordinated by the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS) to promote advocacy and networking among human rights NGOs on one hand, and on the other hand between NGOs and Commissioners \u2013 attending some of the events \u2013 for the promotion and protection of human rights in Africa. The NGO Forum provides an opportunity for local and international NGOs to share updates on the human rights situation in Africa, promoting and protecting human rights on the continent. Its relevance is enhanced by the fact that at the official opening of the African Commission session, a representative of the NGO Forum shares with the African Commission the situation of human rights, their implications on the protection of human and peoples\u2019 rights in Africa, and the adopted resolutions at the NGO Forum.\u00a0<\/p>

The discussions at the Forum will be centred around the African Union\u2019s theme of the year: \u2018The Year of Reparations: \u201cJustice for Africans and People of African Descendant Through Reparations\u201d and will cover different human rights thematics.\u00a0<\/p>

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The Forum will cover three main thematic areas:\u00a0<\/p>

  1. Status of human rights and democracy in Africa:<\/b>\u00a0updates from subregional focal points on the general situation.\u00a0<\/li>
  2. Networking for human rights in Africa:\u00a0<\/b>adoption of strategies, best practices for contribution towards the attainment of peace, security and development in Africa.\u00a0<\/li>
  3. Special interest group discussions,\u00a0<\/b>which will allow participants to identify recommendations to address challenges raised in panel discussions.\u00a0<\/li><\/ol>

    The Forum will deliberate on the following sub-themes:\u00a0<\/p>

    1. Reparations:<\/b>\u00a0Historical justice and contemporary relevance, reparations for slavery, colonialism, and systemic racism remain central to the human rights agenda. Beyond symbolic recognition, reparations are critical for addressing intergenerational trauma, economic inequalities, and the restitution of stolen cultural heritage. Calls for restitution have grown stronger, with global advocacy demanding that reparations be integrated into development and justice frameworks.\u00a0<\/li>
    2. Unconstitutional changes of government in West and Central Africa:\u00a0<\/b>In recent years, West and Central Africa have witnessed repeated unconstitutional changes of government, including in Mali, Guinea, Chad, Burkina Faso, and Gabon. These power shifts undermine democratic principles, destabilise societies, and exacerbate human rights violations. Addressing these crises requires accountability and measures to restore trust in governance systems.\u00a0<\/li>
    3. Shrinking civic space and restrictions on freedoms:<\/b>\u00a0Civil society continues to face repression, with governments across Africa restricting freedoms of assembly, association, and expression. Reports from countries such as Cameroon, Ethiopia, Angola, Kenya, and Egypt highlight systematic crackdowns on human rights defenders, journalists, and NGOs. Shrinking civic space undermines the role of civil society in promoting reparative and transformative justice.\u00a0<\/li>
    4. Elections, democracy, and the third-term phenomenon:<\/b>\u00a0The manipulation of constitutions to allow third presidential terms has become an emerging threat to democracy in Africa. This phenomenon, observed in several States, weakens democratic institutions and erodes public trust. The Forum will highlight the human rights implications of electoral manipulation and authoritarian entrenchment.\u00a0<\/li>
    5. Impunity for human rights violations:<\/b>\u00a0Across the continent, impunity persists for gross human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, torture, and sexual and gender-based violence. Reparations cannot be meaningful without accountability, and addressing impunity is key to ensuring non-repetition and transitional justice.\u00a0<\/li>
    6. Environmental rights and protection of Indigenous Peoples:<\/b>\u00a0Environmental degradation, climate change, and exploitation of natural resources disproportionately affect Indigenous communities and marginalised groups. Land dispossession, deforestation, and extractive industries have led to widespread displacement. Linking environmental justice with reparations ensures that vulnerable communities receive redress for the destruction of their livelihoods and ecosystems.\u00a0<\/li>
    7. People of African descent and reparations:<\/b>\u00a0Diaspora communities continue to demand reparations for slavery and colonial exploitation. Global initiatives have highlighted the need for restitution, cultural recognition, and acknowledgment of the role of Africans in shaping global history. Strengthening solidarity between Africa and its diaspora is essential in advancing the reparations agenda.\u00a0<\/li>
    8. Global political and economic challenges:<\/b>\u00a0Illicit financial flows, exploitation of natural resources, and debt burdens continue to deprive African States of critical resources for development. Reparations must be connected to global economic justice, including the fair distribution of wealth and resources.\u00a0<\/li>
    9. Rights of vulnerable groups:<\/b>\u00a0Women, youth, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and survivors of gender-based violence remain disproportionately affected by inequality and discrimination. Gender-sensitive and inclusive reparations frameworks are critical for ensuring justice that addresses the needs of all vulnerable groups.\u00a0<\/li>
    10. The African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls:\u00a0<\/b>A landmark instrument, it reflects the continent\u2019s commitment to eliminating all forms of gender-based violence and harmful practices. It seeks to harmonise legal frameworks, strengthen accountability, and provide comprehensive measures for prevention, protection, and survivor-centered responses across Member States. This Convention is pivotal to advancing gender equality, human rights, and sustainable development in Africa.\u00a0<\/li><\/ol>


      What will the NGO Forum achieve?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

      The expected outcomes of the NGO Forum are the following:\u00a0<\/p>