The Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoplesโ Rights (ACHPR), Commissioner Remy Ngoy Lumbu, has called for the inclusion of individual participants in future editions of the NGO Forum to ensure that those most affected by human rights issues have a platform to speak for themselves.
Speaking passionately at the opening of the 85th NGO Forum in Banjul, Commissioner Lumbu emphasized that while the Forum has served as a critical space for NGOs, it should also open its doors to individuals who often face repression and lack avenues to express their realities.
Reflecting on the Forumโs 2025 theme, โJustice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations,โ Commissioner Lumbu described reparations as a matter of both historical and moral significance. He stressed that reparations extend beyond financial compensation to include acknowledgment, rehabilitation, and guarantees of non-repetition.
He urged participants and ACDHRS to ensure the Forum remains responsive to the lived experiences of Africans and people of African descent, the ultimate beneficiaries of the human rights system.
Commissioner Lumbu reaffirmed the ACHPRโs dedication to ensuring that African voices, particularly those of victims and marginalized individuals, are heard and respected within continental human rights discourse.
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