Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA)

15/09/2026

What could the African Court of Human and Peoples’ Rights’ Climate Change Advisory Opinion mean for human rights and climate justice across Africa?

Meet our speakers for Part Two of our webinar series:

“The Future of Responding to Climate Change Across Africa: Unpacking the African Court of Human and Peoples’ Rights Climate Change Advisory Opinion.”

This session will take a deeper look at the pending Advisory Opinion on climate change, through the perspectives of experts who submitted briefs to the Court. Our speakers will share insights on the key issues before the Court and what the Advisory Opinion could mean for human rights protection, accountability and climate justice across Africa.

Register now: https://newschool.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZwROneLjTN-FdqSzdoXC0A #/registration

📅 Thursday, 17 September 2026
🕑 2:00 PM EAT | 1:00 PM SAST

We hope you can join us!

03/09/2026

Case Spotlight

In 1998, Mali embarked on an ambitious process to modernise its personal and family laws. After years of consultation, a progressive draft Persons and Family Code was adopted by Parliament in August 2009. The draft sought to strengthen equality within marriage, protect children’s rights and bring Mali’s domestic legislation into closer conformity with its international human rights obligations. However, the reform faced intense opposition from religious and Islamic organisations, which argued that several provisions conflicted with religious principles. Following nationwide protests, the Government referred the draft back to Parliament for a second reading.

The result was the 2011 Family Code, a significantly revised law that rolled back many of the protections contained in the earlier draft. While intended to regulate family relations, the revised Code retained several discriminatory provisions that fell short of the standards established under the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol), which Mali had ratified in 2005.

On 26 July 2016, the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA), in collaboration with Association pour le Progrès et la Défense des Droits des Femmes Maliennes (), instituted proceedings before the African Court on Human and Peoples'​ Rights challenging the compatibility of Mali’s Persons and Family Code of 2011 with the country’s regional and international human rights obligations.

On 10 May 2018, the African Court delivered a landmark judgment in favour of APDF and IHRDA. The Court held that several provisions of Mali’s Persons and Family Code were inconsistent with the Maputo Protocol, African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC) and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), all of which Mali had ratified.

Read more: https://lnkd.in/eF9u67Q6

Author: Awa G*i

25/08/2026

Today, we conclude the second phase of our capacity-building initiative for Gambian journalists on children’s rights and ethical reporting.

Organised in partnership with the Gambia Press Union(GPU) and funded by UNICEF Gambia, the workshop brought together journalists and media practitioners from across The Gambia to strengthen responsible reporting on issues affecting children.

Over two days, participants explored privacy, safeguarding, informed consent, children’s participation, trauma-sensitive interviewing, and ethical coverage of sensitive issues through practical exercises, case studies and discussions.

As part of the initiative, 10 community radio outlets will receive support to produce three talk shows each on children’s rights, creating an opportunity to translate lessons from the training into meaningful content for public audiences.

25/08/2026

One year on, justice remains incomplete.

We are pleased to see this timely opinion piece by our Deputy Executive Director, Michael Gyan Nyarko, published today in The EastAfrican. The article marks the first anniversary of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights' landmark decision in Afekuru Animu Risasi Amitai v Republic of South Sudan and reflects on what remains to be done to end arbitrary deprivation of nationality and address statelessness in South Sudan.

The piece argues that implementing the Commission's decision is about more than restoring one individual's nationality. It is an opportunity to strengthen the rule of law, protect the rights of thousands at risk of statelessness and advance legal and administrative reforms that ensure every person can enjoy the protection of citizenship.

Read the full article here:

https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/opinion/guest-blogs/south-sudan-must-end-arbitrary-citizenship-loss-statelessness-5569998

South Sudan's independence brought with it the immense challenge of defining citizenship for a population shaped by decades of conflict and displacement.

21/08/2026

💡 REGISTER NOW

The African Court Coalition, Global Strategic Litigation Council, Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA), and the Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center invite you to register for an upcoming 2-part webinar:

The Future of Responding to Climate Change Across Africa: Unpacking the African Court of Human and Peoples’ Rights Climate Change Advisory Opinion

🔷 Part 1: Understanding the African Court: Jurisdiction, Process and the Road to the Advisory Opinion
📅 Thursday, 10 September 2026
⏰ Time: 2:00 - 3:30 PM EAT
➡️ Register here: https://newschool.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nSbogRZsT3eB-FCzKtYAWg #/registration

🔷 Part 2: Voices from the Amicus Briefs: Key Arguments Shaping the Climate Advisory Opinion
📅 Thursday, 17 September 2026
⏰ Time: 2:00 - 3:30 PM EAT
➡️ Register here: https://newschool.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZwROneLjTN-FdqSzdoXC0A #/registration

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing humanity today, and across Africa, its impacts are increasingly affecting communities to live freely and safely on their land.

In response to this escalating crisis, the African Court of Human and Peoples’ Rights is currently preparing its advisory opinion that will answer the question: what must states do to respond to climate change?

This timely two-part webinar series will explore the African Court, its advisory jurisdiction and how the pending advisory opinion could shape the response to the climate crisis in Africa.

The first session will lay the foundation by examining the African Court of Human and Peoples’ Rights system, while the second session will take a deeper look at the pending advisory opinion on climate change through the lens of experts who submitted briefs to the court. We are honoured to be joined by expert speakers during both sessions - stay tuned for more details!

This series is designed for the benefit of all Africans and friends of Africa interested in the protection of human rights in the context of the climate emergency. You don’t have to attend both though it is encouraged!

Everyone, irrespective of familiarity with the African Court or the climate crisis is welcome to join us in this important discussion on what comes next, and how we can use this moment to mobilize public support for climate justice.

19/08/2026

📸 12 DAYS TO GO!

Have you submitted your photos yet? Don’t be left out!

This is your chance to tell a powerful human rights story through an image and showcase the realities, resilience, courage and hopes of people across Africa.

We are accepting submissions from photographers across Africa.

🏆 PRIZES
🥇 1st Prize: USD 1,000 + travel to Dakar, Senegal + exhibition + trophy & certificate
🥈 2nd Prize: USD 500 + certificate + exhibition
🥉 3rd Prize: USD 300 + certificate + exhibition

🔎 Learn more: https://ihrda.org/en/the-ihrda-pan-african-human-rights-photography-competition/

14/08/2026

Press Release

The Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA), on behalf of five Nigerian travelers, has filed a case before the ECOWAS Court of Justice against the Republic of Cabo Verde over the alleged arbitrary denial of entry into the country.

The filing comes against the backdrop of broader concerns regarding the treatment of African nationals in Cabo Verde.

Read more: https://ihrda.org/en/ihrda-files-major-case-on-the-alleged-violation-of-the-rights-of-five-nigerian-travelers-by-authorities-in-cabo-verde/

13/08/2026

12/08/2026

Joint Statement: Equatorial Guinea Must Protect Deported Migrants and Lawyers Facing Threats

IHRDA has joined four partner organisations in calling on the Government of Equatorial Guinea to urgently protect third-country nationals deported from the United States who are reportedly facing arbitrary detention, physical abuse, inadequate medical care and barriers to accessing legal representation.

We are also alarmed by reports that lawyers attempting to represent these individuals have faced intimidation and threats, undermining access to justice and due process.

Together, we urge the authorities to:
✔ End all ill-treatment and intimidation.
✔ Ensure detainees have prompt access to lawyers of their choice.
✔ Provide continuous medical care.
✔ Respect the principle of non-refoulement and protect the rights of everyone under their jurisdiction.

📖 Read the full statement here: https://ihrda.org/en/equatorial-guinea-protect-deported-migrants-and-lawyers-facing-threats-and-intimidation/

11/08/2026

Today, the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA), in partnership with UNICEF Gambia and the Gambia Press Union, kicked off a two-day capacity-building workshop for journalists in The Gambia on Children’s Rights and Ethical Reporting.

The workshop forms part of a broader initiative aimed at strengthening the capacity of journalists to report accurately, ethically and responsibly on issues affecting children, while ensuring that children’s rights, dignity and voices are respected in media coverage.

Speaking at the opening, IHRDA Executive Director, Dr. Musa Kika, acknowledged the importance of the partnership with UNICEF Gambia and the Gambia Press Union in raising awareness of children’s rights and promoting ethical reporting among journalists. He noted that strengthening the media’s understanding of children’s rights can contribute significantly to the promotion and protection of children’s rights in The Gambia.

Officially opening the workshop, Hon. Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, underscored the powerful role journalists play in shaping how society understands issues affecting children.

“A journalist’s pen and equipment can change a child’s life. It can give a child a voice when no one is listening, bring attention to neglect and violence, and mobilise society to act.”

The two-day workshop will explore key principles of child-sensitive journalism, ethical storytelling, children’s participation, safeguarding, privacy and dignity, as well as practical approaches to reporting on issues affecting children.