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Delegates of the Forum on the Participation of NGOs in the 87th Ordinary Session of the ACHPR, gathered outside the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre in Banjul, May 2026

Banjul, The Gambia — established 1989

The standing record of African civil society before the African Commission.

Since 1991 the African Centre has convened the Forum of NGOs preceding each Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, and kept its resolutions, recommendations and declarations on the public record.

  • Observer status, ACHPR
  • Consultative status, UN ECOSOC
  • Working languages: English & French

The 87th Session Forum, Banjul, May 2026 · Photograph: ACDHRS

Dakar, 8–10 October 2026

The programme of the 89th Session Forum

Panels announced in the call for applications, framed by the African Union Theme of the Year 2026 on water and sanitation.

Full call for applications →

Inaugural Panel — The African Charter at 45: Achievements, Challenges and the Future of Human Rights in Africa

A special commemoration of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, 1981–2026.

Shrinking Civic Space in Africa: Protecting Freedom of Expression, Association and Assembly

Water, Sanitation and Human Rights: Translating the AU Theme of 2026 into Action

From Restrictive Laws to Transnational Repression: Protecting Human Rights Defenders in Africa

Conflict and Unconstitutional Changes of Government: Rethinking Peace, Security and Democratic Governance in Africa

Gender, Youth, and Cultural Rights in Africa's Future

Propose a panel or side event

Requests close 18 September 2026 · How to apply →

Sub-themes Water, Sanitation and the Right to Development Civic Space, Governance and Democratic Integrity Natural Resources, Environmental Justice and Climate-Induced Migration Peace, Security and Human Rights Social Inclusion: Gender, Youth and Cultural Rights

The session register

Every Forum, and everything it produced

One permanent page per Ordinary Session, holding the concept note, programme, participants, adopted resolutions and recommendations, final statement and report. Citable, and never moved.

Search all Forum records →
  1. 87thMay 2026

    Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems

    7–9 May 2026 · Banjul, The Gambia · 250+ NGO representatives · 12+ sessions across panels, side events and interest groups

    Adopted texts Reports Photographs
  2. 2025October · Earlier sessions

    October 2025 NGOs Forum

    October 2025 · Adopted resolutions, recommendations and the Forum newsletter

    Newsletter In the archive
  3. 2025April · Earlier sessions

    April 2025 NGO Forum

    April 2025 · Key documents of the Forum, as published by the Centre

    Key documents In the archive
  4. 2023October · Earlier sessions

    October 2023 NGOs Forum

    October 2023 · Resolutions and recommendations adopted by the Forum

    Adopted texts In the archive

Documentation Centre

Thirty-seven years of the African human rights record

Declarations, resolutions, recommendations, joint statements, letters, Forum reports and the Situation of Human Rights in Africa series — searchable by type, session, year, theme and language.

All documents Resolutions Recommendations Declarations Joint statements Forum reports Letters Publications
1989Established in Banjul
380+Documents in the library
250+Organisations at the Forum
2Working languages

Programmes

What the Centre does between sessions

01

Networking & the NGO Forum

Convening and coordinating African civil society ahead of every Ordinary Session, and carrying its adopted positions to the Commission.

  • Next — Dakar, 8–10 October 2026
  • Since — 1991
Forum programme →
02

Training & education

Courses on the African and UN human rights systems for advocates, magistrates, police, prison officers, journalists and national institutions.

  • Delivery — Banjul and in-region
  • Languages — English & French
Training at the Centre →
03

Research & documentation

The Situation of Human Rights in Africa series, occasional papers, and a reference library open to researchers, students and the public.

  • Flagship — Situation of Human Rights in Africa
  • Library — open by appointment
Browse publications →
A wide photograph of NGO Forum delegates assembled outside the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre in Banjul, October 2025
The Forum of NGOs — Banjul, October 2025. Photograph: ACDHRS

Latest

Statements & news

All news →

Standing & governance

Independent, pan-African, and accountable

Established in Banjul in 1989 and re-constituted in 1995 as an autonomous pan-African non-governmental organisation, the Centre is governed by a Council of eleven African members with an international Advisory Committee, meeting twice yearly.

About the Centre Track record Governing Council Executive Director
  • Executive DirectorHannah Forster
  • Governing CouncilEleven African members
  • StatusACHPR observer · UN ECOSOC
  • Registered officeSerrekunda, The Gambia

How the Centre is governed

An international council of experts appointed in their own capacities as eminent human rights functionaries, supported by an Advisory Committee and a permanent Secretariat.

Governing Council Eleven African members

Governs the Centre and meets twice yearly, with ex-officio and NGO representation.

Advisory Committee International advisors

Eminent human rights functionaries who counsel the Council in their own capacities.

Secretariat Banjul, The Gambia

The Centre's permanent staff, led by Executive Director Hannah Forster.