PRESS RELEASE
BANJUL, THE GAMBIA – The African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS) is proud to announce the upcoming Forum on the Participation of NGOs in the 83rd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR). This year’s event, themed “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations,” will take place from April 28 to April 30, 2025, at the prestigious Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Conference Centre on Bertil Harding Highway in Banjul, The Gambia.
The Forum will bring together over 200 human rights advocates, policymakers, researchers, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders within and outside of Africa to address historical injustices faced by Africans and people of African descent. It aims to foster dialogue, collaboration, and actionable strategies for reparative justice that not only address the legacy of slavery and colonialism but also tackle contemporary forms of exploitation, such as modern slavery.
The event will focus on enhancing the understanding of reparations among NGOs, policymakers, and the public. It will provide a platform for dialogue among stakeholders on reparative justice while formulating actionable strategies for advocating reparations locally and internationally. Participants will also share successful case studies and models of reparative initiatives in the region and globally.
Key thematic areas include economic reparations for sustainable development, addressing modern-day slavery and exploitation, gender justice in reparations, corporate accountability and ethical practices, and global advocacy for reparative justice. Discussions will explore how reparations can address systemic poverty and inequalities through education, healthcare, infrastructure development, survivor support initiatives, gender-sensitive approaches, and holding multinational corporations accountable.
The Forum will feature high-profile panel discussions on topics such as historical context and mental health impacts of reparations; combating modern-day slavery; land dispossession and famine in Sudan; suppression of civic space in East Africa; women and reparative justice; religious and traditional leaders as partners in justice; human rights defenders’ role in advancing justice; and economic justice through wealth redistribution.
Reparations symbolize justice, healing, and empowerment for Africans and people of African descent who continue to endure the legacy of slavery, colonialism, and systemic racism. By urging governments and human rights actors to address both historical wrongs and modern-day injustices like forced labor and exploitation, this Forum aims to create a holistic framework for justice that uplifts communities across Africa.
The African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies invites all stakeholders, NGOs, policymakers, researchers, activists, corporate leaders, religious figures, traditional leaders, and members of civil society to join this critical dialogue on reparative justice.
For more information or media inquiries about the event:
Contact: Pa Modou Cham, Communication and Information Officer on +220-3163509 or email @ admin1@acdhrs.org; Ellen Ann, Admin Officer on +220-3253419 or csec@acdhrs.org.
Hannah Forster (Mrs)
Executive Director
