NGO Forum Tackles Reparative Justice for Africans and the Diaspora

Group Picture of NGO Forum © Askanwi

By Fatou Jaiteh

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) kicked off a three-day NGO forum ahead of its 83rd Ordinary Session. The event started on 28th April and concluded on 30th April 2025, at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center in Bijilo.

This year’s theme, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations,” reflects the African Union’s (AU) ongoing commitment to addressing historical injustices, including the trans-Atlantic slave trade, colonialism, apartheid, and genocide. According to the AU, the theme builds on decades of advocacy and aims to strengthen unity and establish global mechanisms for reparatory justice.

The forum has brought together human rights advocates, civil society organisations, policymakers, and stakeholders from across Africa and the diaspora to strategise on advancing reparative justice.

“The NGO Forum is held twice a year, prior to the ACHPR’s Ordinary Sessions, as a platform where the human rights situation in Africa is discussed by the NGO community,” organisers said. It also serves as a space for networking and promoting the protection of human rights across the continent.

Speaking at the opening, a representative of the NGO Steering Committee expressed concern over the deteriorating human rights situation in Africa. He highlighted that freedom of expression is increasingly being curtailed by restrictive laws, such as anti-terrorism legislation, which he claimed is “being used to silence and stop the work of civil society.” He further stated that activists and journalists are facing numerous challenges in expressing their opinions, which not only undermines civic space but also deprives communities of the support they need, hindering collective progress toward a just society.

Focusing on the forum’s theme, Mr. Gilbert Sebihogo, Executive Director of the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions, emphasised the importance of eradicating modern-day slavery practices, including human trafficking, forced labour, and exploitation. He stressed that through solidarity and mutual support, Africa can move toward a more just and equitable future for Africans and people of African descent.

Mr. Jegan Grey-Johnson, Communications and Advocacy Officer at AfriMAP, also underlined the need for collaboration between Africa and the diaspora in advancing the global reparations agenda.

Madam Hannah Foster, Executive Director of the ACHPR, asserted that justice must prevail for healing to begin. “The perpetrators must pay for their crimes so that the survivors can find peace of mind, and that should happen now,” she said.