From 8 to 15 October 2026, RFLD takes part in the 89th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Dakar. The network comes with women human rights defenders and partner organisations from across the continent. RFLD brings together 1,143 member organisations in more than 35 African countries.
Opening of the NGOs Forum
RFLD is a partner of the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS) for the NGOs Forum that precedes the session. On Thursday 8 October, John Gbenagnon, RFLD’s Director of Strategy and Development, delivers the network’s statement at the opening ceremony. He then moderates the session on the state of human rights and democracy in Africa.
In the afternoon, RFLD convenes Panel 1 of the Forum on an Afrofeminist reading of shrinking civic space. Hon. Commissioner Janet Ramatoulie Sallah-Njie, Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa, joins the panel.
Our full programme in Dakar
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Thu 8 Oct, morning | Opening ceremony of the NGOs Forum: RFLD statement by John Gbenagnon, followed by the session on the state of human rights and democracy in Africa, which he moderates |
| Thu 8 Oct, 14:20 | NGOs Forum, Panel 1: an Afrofeminist reading of shrinking civic space, with Hon. Commissioner Janet Ramatoulie Sallah-Njie |
| Sat 10 Oct | Working session on the Gender Mainstreaming Tool, with a session led by the Cyrus R. Vance Center (closed session) |
| Mon 12 Oct, 16:30 | Panel “Defending without being exposed” on the main agenda of the 89th Session, chaired by Hon. Commissioner Rémy Ngoy Lumbu, Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, with the support of the SEA-T programme (GIZ, BMZ) |
| Tue 13 Oct, 09:00 | Regional dialogue with Expertise France (Team Europe, WLICT initiative) on technology-facilitated gender-based violence, with civil society and national institutions from Benin, Nigeria and Senegal |
| Tue 13 Oct | Side event of Benin’s National Institute for Women (INF) and RFLD: “Women in politics and technology-facilitated violence” |
| Wed 14 Oct, 14:00 GMT | Regional dialogue of ACCA and the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, on corporate accountability in Africa (hybrid) |
| Wed 14 Oct | RFLD public panel on the protection of women human rights defenders |
| Thu 15 Oct, 13:00 | Side event of the Cyrus R. Vance Center and RFLD: towards a regional framework against technology-facilitated gender-based violence |
The closed working session of 10 October feeds the Gender Mainstreaming Tool with evidence from defenders and survivors. It is not open to the media.
Why this matters
Women human rights defenders across Africa face growing restrictions, online attacks and legal pressure. The 89th Session is a moment to bring their experience before the Commissioners and to push for protection mechanisms that work in practice. RFLD will share updates from each event during the session.
Media
Journalists are welcome at the open events. Accreditation details and the media advisory are on our media page. Media requests: admin@rflgd.org.
