The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) delegation, comprising of Chief Commissioner Berhanu Adello, Commissioner for Civil, Political and Socio-Economic Rights Dr. Abdi Jibril and other senior officials, participated in the 83rd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Commission), in Banjul, The Gambia from May 2 to 12, 2025. The African Commission, a quasi-judicial body established under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Charter), holds public sessions twice a year engaging State Parties, national human rights institutions (NHRIs), civil society organisations and other stakeholders. EHRC has been participating regularly in the public sessions of the African Commission since 2020.
During the 83rd Ordinary Session of the African Commission, EHRC presented its statement on the human rights situation in Ethiopia during the reporting period (November 2024 – May 2025) including positive developments, concerns and recommendations. EHRC further presented statements on the activity reports of the Special Rapporteur on Prisons, Conditions of Detention and Policing in Africa; the Working Group on the Rights of Older Persons and People with Disabilities in Africa; the Working Group on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Africa; and the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa.
During the Session, EHRC also participated in a panel discussion organised by the Committee for the Prevention of Torture in Africa (CPTA) on 7 May 2025, on “The Need for a Torture-Free Trade Treaty”. EHRC participated as a panellist representing African NHRIs and underscored that “NHRIs are in a strong position to support and participate in the global move to establish common binding international standards to regulate the trade in law enforcement equipment that are inherently abusive or that may be used for legitimate purposes but are often used to commit torture and other ill-treatment.”
Additionally, EHRC participated in side-events held on the margins of the 83rd Ordinary Session including an event organised on 8 May 2025, by the Consortium of Ethiopian Human Rights Organizations (CEHRO) on “Strengthening Civic Space in Ethiopia: Implementing ACHPR Guidelines on Freedom of Association, Assembly and Expression.”
Finally, EHRC observed Ethiopia’s presentation of the Combined 7th to 10th Periodic Report on the African Charter and the Initial Report on the Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol). In this regard, EHRC submitted parallel reports on the African Charter and Maputo Protocol to the African Commission ahead of Ethiopia’s review in 2024 and facilitated a consultation meeting with the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in April 2025. EHRC will closely follow the African Commission’s recommendations in response to Ethiopia’s report and monitor their implementation.
