In a significant development for human rights advocacy across West Africa, Ghana will host a crucial consultation bringing together the continent’s top human rights official with defenders from across the Anglophone region on November 14.
The Network of Women Leaders for Development (RFLD) office in Ghana, in partnership with the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) and the West Africa Democracy Solidarity Network (WADEMOS), will host Hon. Rémy Ngoy Lumbu, Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) and Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders and Focal Point on Reprisals in Africa.
The consultation comes at a critical time when human rights defenders across West Africa face unprecedented challenges, with military coups, authoritarian consolidation, and systematic repression of civil society creating what experts describe as the region’s most serious democratic crisis in decades.
As one of the 11 organizations mandated to support the Special Rapporteur, RFLD’s hosting of this consultation signals its commitment to leveraging continental partnerships for local impact. The organization’s feminist perspective brings crucial attention to the gendered dimensions of repression, recognizing that women defenders often face additional layers of violence and marginalization.
The consultation’s focus on Anglophone human rights defenders reflects recognition of specific challenges facing activists in English-speaking West African countries. While the entire region has experienced democratic regression, countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Liberia face distinct contextual challenges requiring targeted responses.
The consultation will provide a crucial platform for defenders from these countries to engage directly with the continent’s premier human rights institution and develop coordinated response strategies.
A Strategic Partnership at Continental Level
RFLD’s role in hosting this consultation reflects its growing influence in continental human rights mechanisms. The organization recently achieved a significant milestone by joining the ACHPR’s exclusive Working Group supporting the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders – one of only 11 regional organizations entrusted with this mandate.
According to the ACHPR resolution adopted in November 2024, this Working Group has been tasked with promoting and monitoring the effective implementation of guidelines on freedom of association and assembly across Africa. The mandate, renewed for two years, positions these organizations as key partners in continental human rights protection efforts.
The 11 organizations comprising this elite Working Group include:
- International Centre for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL)
- West African Human Rights Defenders Network (ROADDH/WAHRDN)
- International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)
- Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA)
- East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (EHAHRD-Net)
- African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS)
- Defenders Network for Central Africa (REDHAC)
- Human Rights Institute of South Africa (HURISA)
- Network of National Human Rights Institutions (RINADH)
- Southern Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (SAHRDN)
- North African Human Rights Defenders Network (CIDH)
- Network of Human Rights Defenders in the Portuguese-speaking world
- Network of Women Leaders for Development (RFLD)
Hon. Rémy Ngoy Lumbu: A Voice for Africa’s Defenders
As both ACHPR Chairperson and Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, he has witnessed firsthand the escalating threats facing activists across the continent. His dual mandate positions him uniquely to address both institutional mechanisms for protection and on-ground realities facing defenders. The Special Rapporteur mandate, established to monitor the situation of human rights defenders and serve as a focal point on reprisals, has become increasingly vital as governments across Africa deploy sophisticated tactics to silence dissent.
Strategic Partnerships Driving Impact
The collaboration between RFLD, WACSI, and WADEMOS represents a powerful convergence of expertise and networks across West Africa’s civil society landscape.
RFLD, described as “the central force linking, resourcing, and protecting feminist movements across Sub-Saharan Africa,” brings deep expertise in gender justice and women’s rights advocacy. The organization operates across Ghana, Benin, and Gambia, with a strategic focus on enhancing civil liberties and democratic values under its 2023-2028 strategic plan.
WACSI, established in 2005 by the Open Society Initiative for West Africa, serves as a civil society knowledge hub with continental recognition, focusing on strengthening institutional and operational capacities of civil society organizations for policy intervention.
WADEMOS concentrates on advancing, defending, and reinvigorating democratic norms and reforms across West Africa, bringing crucial expertise in democratic governance and electoral processes.
This partnership model demonstrates how regional organizations can leverage complementary strengths to amplify impact and create platforms for meaningful engagement with continental institutions.
Mandate and Mechanisms for Protection
The ACHPR Working Group’s on Human Rights Defenders mandate, as outlined in Resolution 602, encompasses several critical functions:
Monitoring Implementation: The group monitors how effectively African states implement guidelines on freedom of association and assembly, providing crucial oversight of government compliance with continental standards.
Promotion Activities: Members engage in advocacy and awareness-raising activities to promote respect for defenders’ rights and create enabling environments for civil society.
Reporting and Documentation: The Working Group contributes to the Special Rapporteur’s regular reports to the ACHPR, providing ground-level intelligence on trends and violations.
Capacity Building: Organizations support defenders through training, resource mobilization, and technical assistance to enhance their protection and effectiveness.
Early Warning Systems: The network serves as an early warning mechanism, identifying emerging threats and coordinating rapid response efforts.
Timing and Context
The November 14 consultation occurs against a backdrop of intensifying repression across West Africa. Recent months have witnessed:
- Cross-border operations targeting journalists in exile
- Weaponization of counter-terrorism legislation against peaceful activists
- Systematic harassment of women human rights defenders
- Increased surveillance and digital rights violations
- Judicial manipulation to intimidate civil society
This context makes the consultation particularly urgent, providing defenders with direct access to continental protection mechanisms at a moment when such support is desperately needed. The Accra consultation represents more than a single event – it embodies a strategic approach to building resilient networks capable of withstanding authoritarian pressure. By bringing together continental leadership with grassroots defenders, the meeting aims to:
- Strengthen reporting mechanisms for violations against defenders
- Develop rapid response protocols for emergency situations
- Enhance coordination between national, regional, and continental protection efforts
- Build capacity for digital security and protection
- Create sustainable funding mechanisms for defender support
As human rights defenders prepare to gather in Accra on November 14, they carry with them the hopes and struggles of millions across West Africa who continue to believe in the possibility of democratic governance and respect for human dignity. Their courage in the face of escalating repression serves as a powerful reminder that even in freedom’s darkest hours, the struggle for human rights continues.
For more information about the ACHPR Working Group mandate and participating organizations, visit the official ACHPR resolution. Updates on the consultation will be available through RFLD’s official channels.
