The 85th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) has opened in Banjul, The Gambia, with a strong call for reparatory justice and deeper commitment to protecting human rights across the continent.
Dr. Joseph Whittal, Chairperson of the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI), said reparations must be understood as more than financial redress, stressing that they should include truth-telling, accountability, and structural reforms aimed at restoring dignity and addressing historic injustices.
“Across Africa, the call for reparatory justice has evolved into a united demand for truth, accountability, and structural transformation,” Dr. Whittal said. “Reparations are a holistic process of restoring dignity, addressing deep-rooted inequalities, and acknowledging the enduring impact of slavery, colonialism, apartheid, and racial discrimination.”
The ACHPR session comes at a critical time as many African nations grapple with serious human rights challenges. These include protracted armed conflicts that have displaced millions, shrinking civic space marked by restrictive laws and harassment of journalists and activists, and deep socio-economic hardships such as poverty, youth unemployment, and corruption.
Environmental crises are also intensifying, with extreme weather patterns, droughts, and floods forcing mass displacement and worsening food insecurity in several regions.
Dr. Whittal urged African governments to embed development and security strategies within a human rights-based framework that promotes civic freedoms and inclusive governance. He reaffirmed NANHRI’s partnership with the African Commission and commended its ongoing work in promoting accountability, equality, and justice.
The 85th ACHPR Session, held from October 21 to 30, 2025, at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre, has drawn participants from across Africa and beyond. The gathering provides a platform for dialogue and collective action on the continent’s most pressing human rights concerns.
As delegates deliberate over the coming days, the call from Banjul is clear: achieving lasting peace and sustainable development in Africa must begin with justice, truth, and respect for human dignity.
