Senegal and the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS) are strengthening their cooperation in preparation for the NGO Forum on Human Rights.
It is scheduled to take place in Dakar from October 8 to 10, 2026, as a prelude to the 89th Ordinary
Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The Senegalese Minister of Justice, Keeper of the Seals, received a delegation from ACDHRS on Monday, August 31. The delegation was led by its Vice-President of the Board of Directors, Mabassa Fall, and included the organisation’s Executive Director, Hannah Forster, as well as several members and partners.
This meeting focused primarily on preparations for the NGO forum, which is expected to bring together several hundred representatives of civil society organisations, academics, and media professionals in Dakar. Approximately ten panels are planned, addressing key issues related to the promotion, protection, and defence of human rights in Africa.
On this occasion, the ACDHRS delegation requested the support of the Ministry of Justice to facilitate administrative procedures, including the issuance of visas and letters of invitation necessary for the participation of delegates and media professionals expected in Dakar.
The organisation also announced that an official invitation will soon be sent to the Minister of Justice to deliver the welcoming address at the forum’s opening ceremony.
Founded in 1989 and based in Banjul, The Gambia, ACDHRS is a pan-African organisation committed to promoting democracy, good governance, and human rights. Its involvement in preparing the forum demonstrates its commitment to strengthening dialogue among African
institutions, civil society groups, academia, and the media.
Representatives of the organisation welcomed the Senegalese authorities’ willingness to cooperate and presented Senegal as a prime location for dialogue on issues related to democracy, rights, and
freedoms.
In response, the Minister of Justice reaffirmed Senegal’s commitment to promoting and protecting human rights and the principles of good governance.
He assured them of the state’s readiness to support the preparation and success of this important pan-African meeting.
The minister also recalled Senegal’s historic role in promoting democracy and human rights on the continent, while emphasising that their protection remains a constant challenge for African states.
The Dakar NGO Forum will thus be an important step before the 89th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, providing civil society actors with a space for reflection, dialogue, and proposals on the future of human rights in Africa.
TE/Sf/fss/as/APA