It lasted from 17 to 19 October and 21 African countries were represented among the participants. On the first day, participants shared their expectations and presented the human rights situation in each of their countries.
Most of them hoped to use this opportunity to improve their knowledge on treaty bodies and more broadly UN human rights mechanisms. They also indicated their willingness to improve their understanding of mechanisms protecting women, learn more on how reprisals are handled at the international and regional level and benefit from the experience of other participants to reinforce their capacity as defenders.
Participants from Burundi, Benin, Algeria and Kenya highlighted the risks they face and especially the prominence of restrictive laws limiting their work in their countries. The first day gave an overview of the international mechanisms defenders can engage with to promote the protection of human rights. Participants enquired specifically on the strategy to push forward specific issues such as migrants, children and LGBTIQ rights when protecting these rights can put them in a very unsafe position at the local level.
The second day opened with an introduction of the African Human Rights System. Later in the day, participants benefited from an in-depth perspective of the functioning of the African Commission and the mechanisms around it.
This discussion allowed the defenders to have a better idea of their respective mandate, how to apply for observer status and the possibilities they have to engage once they acquire it. During a session focused on the freedoms of expression, association and assembly, participants shared the state of implementation and protection of these freedoms in their countries. Most of them hinted at the existing challenges in the actual protection of these freedoms. Though States have included these freedoms and guarantee to protect them in their Constitution, it is rarely the case.
