Network
Non-governmental organisations
NGOs play a prominent role in the activities of the Commission. Primarily, they draw the attention of the Commission to violations of the Charter, bring communications on behalf of individuals, monitor states' compliance with the Charter, and help to increase awareness about the Commission's activities by organizing conferences and other activities.
NGOs participate in the Commission's public sessions and engage with the reporting procedure by submitting shadow reports and popularising concluding observations.
Since 1988, the Commission has been granting observer status to NGOs. NGOs having observer status with the Commission are required to submit a report of their activities every two years.
Latest NGOs that were granted observer status:
National Human Rights Institutions
NHRIs are statutory bodies established by governments in Africa and
charged with the responsibility of promoting and protecting human rights
institutions in their respective countries.
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NGO map Larger Image
There are 455 NGOs with affiliate status. Click the map to browse NGOs by country.
Browse NGOs
Criteria for grant of NGO observer status
- The objectives of the NGO must be in consonance with the principles of the Constitutive Act of the AU and the African Charter.
- The NGO must be working in the field of human rights.
- Written application to the Secretariat which must be accompanied by:
- Proof of legal existence, list of members, constituent organs and source of funding
- Declaration of financial resources
- Last financial statement
- Statement of activities.
NGO Forum
The NGO Forum, organised by the Banjul-based African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies, serves as a medium through which NGOs acquaint themselves with the Commission’s activities.
Website: http://www.acdhrs.org/