Reimagining Africa’s Human Rights Future

A regional convening in Cotonou will bring West and Central African stakeholders together to shape a more responsive, inclusive, and effective human rights system.

Human rights in West and Central Africa stand at a critical crossroads. While countries have adopted laws and established institutions to protect human rights, many people continue to face conflict, economic hardship, inequality, restrictions on civic space and environmental destruction. The gap between commitments and people’s everyday experiences raises an urgent question: How can Africa build a human rights system that responds to today’s challenges while preparing for the future?

This question will take center stage at the regional convening on Reimagining the Future of Human Rights in West and Central Africa, scheduled for 10–12 November 2026 in Cotonou, Benin. Approximately 70 participants from governments, regional institutions, civil society, academia, the private sector and development partners are expected to explore practical, African-led solutions to strengthen human rights, democratic governance, peace, justice and sustainable development.

The convening is part of a broader continental initiative to develop a future-fit African Human Rights Architecture, ensuring West and Central Africa’s experiences and priorities inform the continent’s thinking on the future of human rights governance.

Four themes, one shared agenda

Discussions will address four interconnected priorities: democratic governance, constitutionalism and civic space, including accountability, public participation and digital rights; peace, security and human rights, with a focus on conflict prevention, civilian protection and justice; human rights, economic governance and environmental justice, examining inequality, natural resource exploitation, climate change, pollution and the fair distribution of development benefits; and regional leadership and the future of Africa’s human rights architecture, exploring how continental and regional institutions, governments and civil society can strengthen cooperation, accountability and implementation.

Together, these themes recognize that human rights cannot be protected in isolation from the political, economic, environmental and security conditions shaping people’s lives.

Putting African experiences at the center

West and Central Africa bring important strengths to this conversation, including vibrant civil society movements, committed human rights defenders, youth leadership, Indigenous knowledge and longstanding traditions of dignity, justice and collective responsibility. Historical sources such as the Charter of Kurukan Fuga reflect African traditions that can inform contemporary thinking about rights and governance.

Yet, serious challenges remain. Communities affected by extractive industries and environmental degradation continue to raise concerns about participation, livelihoods, accountability and access to remedy. Restrictions on civic space can limit the ability of people to challenge abuses, while conflict and economic pressures place additional burdens on already vulnerable communities.

The convening will consider how human rights institutions and policies can respond more effectively to these realities. It will also emphasize gender equality, youth participation, disability inclusion, Indigenous peoples’ rights and environmental sustainability across all four themes.

The meaningful involvement of affected communities, civil society and human rights defenders will be essential to ensuring that the resulting priorities reflect people’s experiences—not only institutional perspectives.

From discussion to action

The meeting is expected to produce a Regional Outcome Statement, evidence-based policy recommendations, a regional synthesis report and priorities to inform the wider continental dialogue. Its recommendations will contribute to the development of a roadmap for a future-fit African Human Rights Architecture.

The event is being organized by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights’ Regional Hub for Central and West Africa (OHCHR-RHCWA), the Open Society Foundations (OSF), the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) and the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI).

The organizers envisage follow-up work to promote implementation, monitor progress, document lessons and strengthen cooperation among regional institutions, governments, civil society and other partners.

The convening supports the aspirations of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights’ Strategic Plan for 2026–2028. It also offers an opportunity to inform the strategic priorities of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights’ Regional Hub for Central and West Africa, based in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Shaping a human rights future that works for Africans

Reimagining human rights requires more than adopting new declarations or reviewing existing institutions. It means confronting the reasons commitments are not fully implemented, identifying what needs to change and ensuring that institutions are accountable for delivering results.

It also means strengthening African ownership: regional priorities must be shaped by African institutions, communities, civil society and human rights defenders, with international partnerships supporting rather than displacing local leadership.

Ultimately, the success of the Cotonou convening will depend not on the number of recommendations adopted, but on whether those recommendations lead to stronger protection, greater accountability, meaningful public participation and tangible improvements in people’s lives.

The challenge is to move from shared concerns to shared priorities—and from shared priorities to sustained, African-led action.

Peter Quaqua is the head of Secretariat, Environmental Rights Africa (ERA) coalition.