Executive Summary

The period from March to May 2025 witnessed a complex and challenging human rights landscape across Africa. African and international human rights organizations documented serious violations, including war crimes, gender-based violence, and systemic impunity, particularly in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso. Regional bodies, including the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, continued their efforts to strengthen accountability mechanisms. At the United Nations, human rights situations in Africa, especially in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, remained a critical focus, with calls to address systemic racism and ensure accountability. This newsletter provides a comprehensive overview of these developments, highlighting key trends, causal relationships, and broader implications for justice and human rights on the continent.

The issue of accountability for grave human rights violations also remained a major challenge in several regions. In the Central African Republic, a joint report by the UN Human Rights Office and the UN Mission (MINUSCA) in March 2025 documented brutal attacks targeting Muslims (especially the Fulani) and Sudanese refugees in Mbomou and Haut-Mbomou prefectures (during October 2024 and January 2025), including summary executions, sexual violence, and torture, attributed to armed groups linked to the national army. Strong UN calls were issued to hold perpetrators accountable and disarm these groups to combat the prevailing climate of impunity.

In a related context of weak judicial systems, the case of Nigerian farmer Sunday Jackson in Nigeria, who was sentenced to death by the Supreme Court in March 2025 despite strong claims of self-defense, drew criticism from organizations like ActionAid, which considered the ruling a blow to public confidence in the judiciary and called for executive intervention to grant a pardon.

The politicization of the judiciary as a tool to suppress opposition also emerged in Tunisia, where a CIVICUS report in May 2025 pointed to sham mass trials of opponents on charges of conspiracy and terrorism, resulting in harsh sentences without sufficient legal safeguards. This coincided with a concerning step by Tunisia in March 2025 to withdraw its declaration allowing individuals and organizations direct access to the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

Introduction

Introduction: “Africa Hak ” – Supporting Justice and Rights Across the Continent

This inaugural “Africa Hak ” newsletter aims to provide an accurate and comprehensive journalistic overview of the most significant developments in human rights and law across the African continent during March, April, and May 2025. Our mission is to highlight ongoing trials, new legislation, and reports issued by human rights organizations and the United Nations, thereby promoting awareness and accountability. The period under review reveals a continent facing multifaceted challenges, from entrenched conflicts and widespread human rights violations to the complex task of establishing robust legal frameworks in an evolving digital age. Through careful examination of these developments, “Africa Rights” seeks to contribute to the pursuit of justice and the realization of human rights for all Africans.

First: Human Rights Violations and Accountability: Issues and Concerns (March-May 2025)

This section addresses the most prominent human rights concerns documented by African and international organizations, focusing on the legal and judicial implications of these violations and the persistent challenges to accountability.

1. Conflict-Related Atrocities and Civilian Protection:

• Sudan: Escalating Conflicts and Accountability Crisis: The conflict in Sudan is approaching its second anniversary in April 2025 and has led to a horrific humanitarian catastrophe, with over 12.8 million people internally displaced by March 2025, making it the world’s largest internal displacement crisis. Both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, along with allied militias, are implicated in widespread atrocities, including alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity, and possibly genocide, with documented targeting of civilians. Specific crimes include conflict-related sexual violence, arbitrary arrest and detention, torture, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial executions, deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, and obstruction of humanitarian aid. Human Rights Watch specifically noted evidence of ethnic cleansing in Sudan. Victims express deep despair about achieving justice due to the perceived “total failure” of the local judicial system, which suffers from judicial immunities, lack of independence, corruption, and non-compliance with international criminal law standards.

The comprehensive report by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) on Sudan points to a deep and multifaceted accountability crisis, where the scale of atrocities is commensurate with the systemic failure of legal mechanisms at national, regional, and international levels. This suggests that the conflict is not merely a breakdown of peace, but a deliberate disregard for international humanitarian law and human rights law, perpetuated by a lack of political will and institutional weaknesses. The report explicitly states that the local judicial system has “utterly failed” and lists its specific shortcomings, such as immunities, lack of independence, and limited capacity. The report then systematically reviews regional and international mechanisms, identifying their limitations, such as the slow pace of the International Criminal Court and its limited jurisdiction and lack of cooperation. The victims’ sense of despair directly reflects this systemic failure. These are not merely individual crimes, but the absence of a functional legal framework for justice, indicating a deeper crisis in governance and the rule of law.

• Democratic Republic of Congo: M23 Violations and Army-Backed Militias: Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo remains a hotbed of serious human rights violations. Amnesty International extensively documented unlawful killings, torture, arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and hostage-taking by the March 23 Movement (M23) for ransom between February and April 2025. Former detainees provided horrific accounts of assassinations, severe beatings with various objects, and inhumane conditions at M23 detention sites in Goma and Bukavu, some of which resulted in death. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, highlighted both Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo as “humanitarian disasters” characterized by mass atrocities, deliberate targeting of civilians, and sexual violence during the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

The detailed accounts of M23 violations, including specific torture methods and the involvement of Rwandan officials, indicate deliberate and systematic war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by an armed group with external state support. This suggests a complex legal challenge involving both non-state actors and potential state involvement, requiring robust international legal responses. Amnesty International’s report provides meticulous details of the violations: “assassinated,” “beaten with a hammer on the ribs,” “beating them, including with flexible wooden rods, planks, electrical cables, drive belts, rifle butts, or sticks.” The verification of a video clip (March 18, 2025) adds tangible evidence. The explicit reference to “Rwanda-backed” and Rwandan officials handing over detainees transforms this from merely a conflict report into a potential international responsibility and complicity in war crimes case.

• Nigeria: Escalating Death Toll and Looming Humanitarian Crisis: An Amnesty International investigation revealed a “shocking failure” by Nigerian authorities to protect lives and property from attacks by armed groups and bandits between May 2023 and May 2025. Over 10,217 people were killed by armed groups and bandits, with Benue (6,896 deaths) and Plateau (2,630 deaths) states being the most affected. The attacks led to mass displacement, with 450,000 people internally displaced in Benue and 65,000 in Plateau, creating a looming humanitarian crisis as farmers are prevented from cultivating their land. The report highlighted a “complete absence of governance” in many rural areas, allowing criminal groups to operate with impunity, and even levy fees on villagers.

The situation in Nigeria represents a serious collapse of state authority and the rule of law, where armed non-state actors have effectively replaced government control in many areas. This indicates a crisis in state capacity and political will, leading to widespread human rights violations and an exacerbated humanitarian emergency. The statistics (10,217 killed, 450,000 IDPs) are staggering. The phrase “complete absence of governance” and the fact that “militants also extort villagers through phone calls” directly point to the state’s failure in its fundamental duty to protect its citizens and maintain order. The criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration (“things have only gotten worse”) suggests a deeper systemic problem beyond isolated criminal acts.

• Burkina Faso: Ethnic Massacres Led by the Army: Human Rights Watch reported that the Burkina Faso army, along with pro-government militias (VDPs), led and participated in the massacre of over 130 Fulani civilians, and possibly many more, in the western Boucle du Mouhoun region in March 2025, during “Operation Green Whirlwind 2.” Witnesses described the operation as a “hunt for Fulani” and heard calls to “exterminate them,” leading to thousands fleeing and mass displacement. These violations were followed by retaliatory attacks by the armed Islamist group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) in April, killing over 100 civilians, mostly from the Mossi, Bobo, and Dafing ethnic groups, whom they accused of collaborating with the army.

The events in Burkina Faso illustrate a dangerous and escalating cycle of violence fueled by state-sponsored ethnic targeting and the arming of civilian militias in counter-insurgency operations. This not only constitutes war crimes but also threatens to escalate into broader ethnic cleansing, demonstrating how state actions can directly exacerbate conflict and human rights violations. The explicit mention that the “army led and participated in the massacre” and calls by pro-government militias to “exterminate the Fulani people” are crucial legal indicators of potential genocidal intent or crimes against humanity. The “deadly retaliatory operations by an armed Islamist group” show a direct causal link, where state-perpetrated abuses lead to further cycles of violence, undermining any claim of civilian protection.

Table: Summary of Key Conflict-Related Human Rights Violations (March-May 2025)

1. Gender-Based Violence and Discrimination:

• Femicide and Domestic Violence: Calls for Criminalization and Judicial Failure: Equality Now highlighted the urgent need to recognize and criminalize femicide as a separate crime, marking the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. In a shocking incident in Cameroon on April 1, 2025, Bikobi Eric, accused of killing his wife, received a 5-year suspended sentence and a mere $90 USD fine, sparking widespread outrage and demonstrating how judicial outcomes can perpetuate impunity. Equality Now urged member states to criminalize marital rape and domestic violence, including economic violence.

The femicide case in Cameroon is a stark example of how inadequate legal frameworks and/or judicial interpretation can undermine justice in gender-based violence cases, effectively perpetuating impunity for serious crimes and sending a dangerous message about the value of women’s lives. The details of the Cameroonian case (5-year suspended sentence for murder) are very specific and condemnatory. The immediate “outrage” from Equality Now underscores its significance. It’s not just about the existence of laws, but their application and the judicial mindset that allows for such lenient sentences in femicide cases. This directly impacts the “trials and cases” aspect of the user’s query, even if it’s a failure of justice.

• Sexual Violence in Conflict Zones: Sexual violence, including rape and human trafficking, is systematically used as a weapon of war in conflicts such as those in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, leading to lifelong trauma, unwanted pregnancies, and death. The destruction of healthcare infrastructure in these regions restricts access to vital sexual and reproductive health services. Equality Now strongly urged the African Commission to pressure Sudan to ratify the Maputo Protocol, and both Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo to integrate comprehensive sexual and reproductive health strategies into their humanitarian responses.

The use of sexual violence as a weapon of war in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo highlights the gendered impact of conflict and the egregious failure to protect the most vulnerable populations. The call to integrate sexual and reproductive health services into humanitarian responses emphasizes the need for a holistic, rights-based approach that acknowledges the specific vulnerabilities of women and girls in crisis situations. The excerpt explicitly states that “sexual violence… is used as a weapon of war.” This is a legal categorization of a war crime. The consequences (“lifelong trauma… death”) and the link to destroyed health infrastructure show the systemic nature of the harm. The recommendation to integrate sexual and reproductive health services is a practical, rights-based solution to a complex problem, demonstrating a deeper understanding of needs beyond mere prosecution of perpetrators.

• Child Marriage: The continent continues to face a high prevalence of child marriage, a problem exacerbated by conflict, humanitarian crises, and climate change. Recent tragic cases include the marriage of an 8-year-old girl in Somalia and the murder of a 17-year-old girl in a Kenyan refugee camp by her forced husband. Equality Now called on member states to raise the minimum age of marriage to 18 without exceptions and implement comprehensive measures to end child marriage.

The continued prevalence of child marriage, linked to broader societal crises like conflict and climate change, demonstrates the failure of states to uphold children’s rights and protect girls from harmful traditional practices. The specific cases underscore the severe, often fatal, consequences of this legal and social failure. The link between child marriage and “exacerbated conflicts, humanitarian changes, and climate change” points to a deeper causal relationship beyond mere cultural practices. The specific tragic examples (8-year-old child, 17-year-old girl murdered) personalize the legal failure. The call to “raise the minimum age of marriage to 18 without exceptions” directly targets a legal loophole or inadequacy.

• Sexual Exploitation and Digital Rights: Sexual exploitation and abuse of women and girls remain widespread, with human trafficking for sexual purposes on the rise due to persistent gender inequality, climate change, economic instability, and protracted conflicts. Digital spaces are becoming increasingly dangerous, with a surge in online sexual exploitation and abuse, including non-consensual sharing of intimate images. Equality Now urged member states to strengthen gender-sensitive digital rights laws, enforce existing laws, close legal loopholes, and hold technology companies accountable.

The rise of online sexual exploitation highlights an emerging front for human rights violations, where technological advancements are weaponized against women and girls. This necessitates a proactive legal and policy response that extends beyond traditional criminal law to encompass digital rights frameworks and accountability for technology companies. The excerpt explicitly states that “digital spaces have become increasingly dangerous for women and girls” and “the increasing weaponization of technology and online platforms.” This identifies a new dimension of human rights violations. The call for “gender-sensitive digital rights laws” and “stronger accountability mechanisms for technology companies” indicates a legal and policy gap that needs to be filled to effectively address this emerging threat.

• Implementation of the Maputo Protocol: Equality Now commended South Sudan for ratifying the Maputo Protocol in 2023, a landmark commitment to women’s rights, but emphasized the need for its domestication and implementation through legislative and budgetary measures.

South Sudan’s ratification of the Maputo Protocol is a positive legal step, but the focus on “domestication and implementation” highlights the crucial gap between international legal commitments and their practical realization at the national level. This underscores the ongoing challenge of translating international human rights law into tangible protection for citizens. Ratification is a formal legal act, but “domestication and implementation” are the practical steps that make the law effective. The mention of “legislative, budgetary, and other necessary measures” and aligning the “development of the permanent constitution” with the Protocol points to the complexity of this process and the need for sustained political will beyond the initial commitment.

1. Other Critical Human Rights Concerns:

• Zimbabwe: Suppression of Dissent and Compromised Judiciary: Human Rights Watch urged the African Commission to examine Zimbabwe’s human rights record, citing the government’s continued suppression of dissent through arbitrary arrests, politically motivated prosecutions, harassment of journalists, and excessive use of force against protesters. Judicial independence remains compromised, and impunity for past abuses persists.

The situation in Zimbabwe exemplifies a pattern of government repression where domestic law is weaponized to stifle civil space and political opposition, exacerbated by a compromised judiciary that fails to ensure accountability and uphold the rule of law. The phrase “Zimbabwean authorities have long used domestic law as a tool of repression” is a direct legal criticism. “Compromised judicial independence” means that even if laws exist, their application is biased, leading to impunity. This is a systemic problem affecting the integrity of the legal system itself.

• Mali: Extrajudicial Killings and Shrinking Political Space:

International reports indicated that on May 20, 2025, 22 men were found killed after being arrested by soldiers in Mali. Other reports also indicated that Mali’s military junta continues to narrow the political space, with multi-party politics being abolished after targeted attacks. On May 9, 2025, concerns were raised about the enforced disappearance of opposition politicians, calling on the military junta to locate and release them.

These developments in Mali indicate a disturbing trend towards human rights deterioration, with increasing reports of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, while the political space is systematically being narrowed. This reflects a serious erosion of the rule of law and fundamental freedoms, raising questions about the state’s commitment to international human rights standards.

• Tunisia: Politicization of the Judiciary to Suppress Opposition:

The Tunisian Criminal Court issued prison sentences ranging from 13 to 66 years in a mass trial of political opponents who criticized Tunisian President Saied, marking the broadest use of police and courts as a weapon to silence opposition. In another attack on accountability, the government withdrew citizens’ right to appeal to the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

• Zambia: Lead Tailings Mining and Children’s Rights

 On March 5, 2025, a report titled “Toxic Profit: Lead Tailings Mining and Children’s Right to a Healthy Environment in Kabwe, Zambia” was released. This report highlights the devastating environmental and health impacts of lead tailings mining, particularly on children, and emphasizes the urgent need to protect their right to a healthy environment.

This report highlights the crucial link between industrial activities and human rights, particularly children’s right to a healthy environment. The meticulous documentation of the harm caused by lead mining in Zambia indicates a state failure to regulate industries and protect its citizens from pollution, warranting urgent legal and regulatory intervention.

• Chad: Arrest of Opposition Leader:

On May 16, 2025, human rights reports indicated the arrest of Chadian opposition leader Succès Masra. The arrest of the opposition leader in Chad reflects a broader pattern of shrinking civic and political space in many African countries. This indicates a deterioration of democratic freedoms and the rights of political opposition, requiring international monitoring and advocacy for respect for fundamental human rights.

Second: Legal and Legislative Developments in African Countries (March-May 2025)

1. Data Protection and AI Governance:

The period from March to April 2025 saw significant progress in the legal landscape of data protection and AI governance in Africa, reflecting a growing awareness of the importance of digital rights.

• Angola: Draft Revision of the Personal Data Protection Law:

 On March 17, 2025, Angola published a draft revision of its Personal Data Protection Law. This revision aims to update the current law by imposing new obligations on data controllers and processors. Key proposed changes include requiring parental consent for processing children’s data, a 72-hour data breach notification period, and specific requirements for processing personal data when using AI systems. The draft also introduces additional rights such as data portability and restriction of processing.

• South Africa: Amendments to Data Protection Regulations and Enforcement Procedures:

South Africa’s Information Regulator published an amendment to the Personal Information Protection Regulations of 2018, which officially entered into force. This amendment clarifies certain provisions and aids enforcement by allowing the exercise of rights of objection, erasure, and rectification, while setting a 30-day timeline for requests. The amendment also mandates consent for unsolicited direct marketing via electronic communications, outlines complaint handling procedures, and permits administrative fines to be paid in installments. On March 5, 2025, the Regulator also held a stakeholder engagement session to discuss its 2025-2026 Annual Performance Plan, revealing plans to increase awareness, conduct compliance assessments, and issue codes of conduct and guidelines for enforcing the Protection of Personal Information Act. Additionally, the Regulator issued a circular instructing organizations to report data breaches via its portal or website instead of email starting April 1, 2025.

• Togo and Republic of Congo: Formal Establishment of Data Protection Authorities: On March 28, 2025, Togo officially launched its Personal Data Protection Authority (IPDCP) as the data protection authority. The Republic of Congo also published the law establishing the National Commission for Personal Data Protection (CNPD) in the Official Gazette, which defines the commission’s functions, composition, powers, and administration.
• Nigeria: New Data Protection Guidance and Proposed Amendments:

The Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) published its General Data Protection Act Implementation and Enforcement Guidance (NDP Act-GAID), which guides the implementation of the Nigerian Data Protection Act and repeals the previous Nigerian Data Protection Regulation. A proposed bill to amend the Nigerian Data Protection Act, which requires social media platforms to establish physical offices in Nigeria, also passed its second reading in the Senate and was referred to the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity.

• Cape Verde: Development of a National Data Strategy:

Cape Verde hosted an international conference from April 23-24, 2025, to discuss the development of its first National Data Strategy. This strategy aims to provide a framework for leveraging data to enhance the economy, promote inclusion, and ensure the ethical use of data in AI development. The government also plans to build an open and secure data ecosystem that fosters data governance and integrates new technological initiatives, including AI.

• Tanzania: Deliberations on Data Protection Fees:

Tanzania began deliberations on proposed personal data protection fee regulations, which will establish the formal fee structure for various personal data protection services provided by the Personal Data Protection Commission under the Personal Data Protection Act.

• Morocco: Discussions on Video Surveillance Privacy:

The National Commission for the Control of Personal Data Protection (CNDP) issued a circular indicating its intention to deliberate with stakeholders on provisions and safeguards for privacy in video surveillance. The outcome will guide the Commission in developing a framework that balances privacy rights with legitimate public interest and compliance.

• Zambia, Mauritius, and Malawi: Commencement of Data Controller and Processor Registration:

Several data protection authorities announced the commencement of data controller and processor registration. In Zambia, the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner began the registration process and published terms, conditions, and guidelines. The Data Protection Authority of Mauritius invited entities processing personal data to register in compliance with the Data Protection Act and published guidelines. Similarly, the Data Protection Authority of Malawi informed significant data controllers and processors to register within six months.

• Kenya and Uganda: Enforcement Actions:

The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner in Kenya continued enforcement actions. A company was fined for using a data subject’s and their relatives’ images for commercial purposes without consent. Another company was fined for not respecting a data subject’s request for data deletion. A digital lender was fined for sending unsolicited loan recovery messages without consent. Additionally, a company was fined for using a data subject’s images without consent. In Nigeria, the Supreme Court rejected a data subject’s lawsuit against two companies for non-compliance with data minimization principles and processing data without consent, ruling that the collected data was necessary for the transactions. The National Commissioner of the Nigerian Data Protection Commission also revealed an investigation into two multinational companies for privacy violations. In Uganda, the director of a digital lending platform was jailed due to the company’s failure to register with the Personal Data Protection Office and processing a data subject’s data without consent.

1. Other Legal and Judicial Updates:

• Kenya: Enactment of the Persons with Disabilities Act: The Persons with Disabilities Act 2025 was signed into law in May, marking a significant advancement in aligning legislation with the Constitution and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). The Act focuses on inclusion (reserving 5% of government jobs), promoting accessibility, combating discrimination, and supporting the manufacturing of assistive devices.
• Malawi: Prisons Bill:

 The Prisons Bill 2025 was discussed in April, aiming to modernize the old Prison Act (1956) to align with the Constitution and human rights standards. The bill focuses on rehabilitation, prohibiting child detention, providing special healthcare, addressing overcrowding, and introducing a parole system. However, concerns were raised regarding potential implementation challenges related to the clarity of certain provisions and required resources.

• African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights: 77th Ordinary Session and Upcoming Rulings:

The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights is scheduled to hold its 77th Ordinary Session from June 2-27, 2025. Although this session falls outside the direct timeframe of this report (March-May 2025), the Court will issue seven rulings on June 26, 2025, which were adopted during its 76th and 77th Ordinary Sessions. This indicates that some significant legal decisions may have been made in the period leading up to the 77th session, reflecting the Court’s continued activity in addressing issues related to the interpretation and application of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and any other human rights instruments.

• African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) 83rd Ordinary Session: Regional and international mechanisms continued their role in monitoring human rights situations and providing recommendations. The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) held its 83rd Ordinary Session in May 2025, discussing urgent issues such as the protection of human rights defenders, violence against women, transitional justice, and human rights situations in specific countries like Sudan.
• AU Legal Instruments and Conferences:

 On May 23, 2025, the 11th Annual Forum of the African Union Commission on International Law was opened under the theme “International Law, WTO Reform and AfCFTA Implementation.” This two-day forum discussed how to harmonize the Continental Free Trade Area framework with WTO mechanisms, ensuring that the emerging African market strengthens global rules rather than fragmenting them. Emphasis was also placed on protecting traditional knowledge and cultural heritage in international intellectual property regimes and updating special and differential treatment provisions. This forum is expected to guide an African legal approach to WTO reform and AfCFTA implementation. Additionally, the AU hosted a conference on debt in Lomé, Togo, from May 12-14, 2025.

These legal activities of the African Union demonstrate an increasing focus on formulating unified continental legal frameworks, particularly in the areas of international trade and intellectual property. This reflects a broader ambition to enhance regional integration and establish a unified African position in international negotiations, impacting the rule of law and governance at the continental level.

Third: Africa in the United Nations (March-May 2025)

1. UN Human Rights Council Sessions:

Human rights issues in Africa played a prominent role in the discussions and reports presented to the UN Human Rights Council during the period under review.

• 58th Regular Session (February 24 – April 4, 2025): Key Human Rights Issues and Country-Specific Crises:

The 58th regular session of the Human Rights Council was held from February 24 to April 4, 2025. During this session, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, presented a global update on the state of human rights. He highlighted the ongoing humanitarian disasters in several African countries, including Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, characterized by mass atrocities, deliberate targeting of civilians, sexual violence, and denial of humanitarian aid access. He also expressed deep concern over the shrinking space for civil society, democratic backsliding, and increased repression of dissent in countries like Egypt. He also noted persistent structural racism and xenophobia.

Additionally, the Council discussed human rights issues in South Sudan, noting the deteriorating situation with increasing civilian casualties, extrajudicial killings, sexual violence, arbitrary arrests, and shrinking civic space. Technical assistance and capacity building in human rights in Mali were also addressed, and successful transitional justice efforts in Ethiopia were commended. Delegations from Benin, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Mozambique, South Africa, Ghana, and Uganda participated in various discussions and initiatives during the session.

The recurring focus on African countries in the UN Human Rights Council demonstrates that the continent remains a key focus of international human rights attention. The highlighting of humanitarian disasters, shrinking civic spaces, and systemic racism indicates that deep structural challenges require coordinated responses from both the international community and African states themselves.

• 59th Regular Session (Scheduled for June 16 – July 11, 2025):

 The 59th regular session of the Human Rights Council is scheduled to be held from June 16 to July 11, 2025.

1. Universal Periodic Review (UPR):

The Universal Periodic Review is an important mechanism for reviewing the human rights records of UN member states.

• Kenya’s Fourth UPR Cycle (May 1, 2025): Sexual and Reproductive Health Challenges and Recommendations:

On May 1, 2025, Kenya presented its Fourth Universal Periodic Review. Despite progress in constitutional reforms, legislative measures, and policy frameworks to promote sexual and reproductive health, significant challenges remain. These include ensuring access to adolescent sexual and reproductive health services, improving maternal health outcomes, and expanding access to safe abortion. Advocacy for accountability urged the international community to pressure the Kenyan government to address these gaps in law, policy, and practice.

Kenya’s Universal Periodic Review demonstrates that legal progress does not always translate into full realization of rights on the ground, especially in sensitive areas such as sexual and reproductive health. This underscores the need for robust accountability and implementation mechanisms to ensure that legal commitments translate into tangible improvements in citizens’ lives.

• Lesotho’s Universal Periodic Review (April 30, 2025):
•  On April 30, 2025, Lesotho underwent its Universal Periodic Review during the 49th session of the Human Rights Council. The session included presentations from Lesotho government officials, followed by statements and questions from representatives of several states regarding Lesotho’s human rights record.

• Lesotho’s Universal Periodic Review (April 30, 2025): On April 30, 2025, Lesotho underwent its Universal Periodic Review during the 49th session of the Human Rights Council. The session included presentations from Lesotho government officials, followed by statements and questions from representatives of several states regarding Lesotho’s human rights record.

Lesotho’s participation in the Universal Periodic Review is part of its commitment to international human rights scrutiny. This enhances transparency and provides an opportunity for the state to receive recommendations for improving its human rights record, demonstrating the importance of international mechanisms in promoting national accountability.

1. OHCHR Reports and Calls for Inputs:

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights continues its efforts to address systemic issues affecting human rights in Africa.

• 2025 Report on Systemic Racism (Deadline: April 28, 2025): The OHCHR called for inputs for its 2025 report on systemic racism and violations of international human rights law against Africans and people of African descent by law enforcement agencies. The report aims to contribute to accountability and redress and seeks information related to measures taken to confront the legacies of slavery, the transatlantic slave trade, colonialism, and successive racially discriminatory policies and systems. The deadline for submissions was April 28, 2025.

This focus on systemic racism demonstrates a recognition of the importance of addressing the root causes of discrimination, including the interconnectedness between historical injustices and contemporary human rights violations. The call for accountability and reparations signals a comprehensive approach to restorative justice.

• Report on Systemic Racism in the Criminal Justice System (Deadline: April 25, 2025): The International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement is investigating specific aspects of systemic racism in the criminal justice system against Africans and people of African descent. This includes discrimination at different stages of criminal proceedings (pre-trial, trial, and post-conviction), the collection and dissemination of disaggregated data by race, and the link between racial discrimination and the overrepresentation of Africans and people of African descent in pre-trial detention and prisons. The deadline for submissions was April 25, 2025.

This investigation highlights the profound challenges of systemic racism within criminal justice systems, disproportionately affecting Africans and people of African descent. It illustrates that legal reform alone is insufficient; structural and cultural biases within institutions must be addressed to ensure justice and equality.

افريقيا حق

أفريقيا حق

نشرة دورية ربع سنوية

مراجعة للتطورات الحقوقية والقانونية ومشاركات الأمم المتحدة (مارس-مايو 2025)