NEWSLETTER | ISSUE 5 | ISLA FEATURE
ISLA at ACHPR 85th
May 2026
By Fatou Bintou-Sallah and Mai Aman
ISLA at the 85th Ordinary Session of the ACHPR 15- 24 October 2025 | Banjul, The Gambia
In October, ISLA joined the 85th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) in Banjul. Our presence was not just about attending – it was about reshaping how civil society engages with the Commission.
Through the African Civil Society Engagement (ACSE) platform, ISLA worked to move beyond ad hoc NGO Forum side events and toward a sustained campaign model. The aim is continuity, accountability, and political coherence in civil society advocacy. To anchor this shift, ISLA secured a dedicated space in Banjul for ACSE activities, prioritizing working group-led engagements over one-off panels. This ensured that interventions were tied to ongoing campaigns and collective strategies rather than isolated conversations.
Spotlight on Key Engagements
SOGIE Working Group
On 20 October, the SOGIE Working Group convened a side event to advance its regional litigation strategy. Participants agreed to operationalize a SOGIE Litigation Research Mapping Database – a tool to guide case selection, strengthen collaboration, and avoid duplication. The discussion emphasized movement-centred litigation rooted in community realities and political timing. Calls were made for stronger documentation, capacity building for movement lawyers, and deeper engagement with regional human rights mechanisms.
Women’s Platform
On 18 October, ISLA coordinated the Women’s Platform, bringing together feminist advocates to:
• Develop guiding principles for engagement with AU organs.
• Present a feminist legal analysis of the AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (CEVAWG).
• Map anti-rights actors within the African human rights system.
The session strengthened alliances among feminist networks and set a clearer agenda for future engagement, ensuring feminist voices remain central in continental processes.
Litigants Group
On 19 October, ISLA supported the Litigants Group, a coalition committed to reinforcing the Commission’s protective mandate. Members discussed recent ACHPR decisions, shared updates on the Article 59(1) campaign, and examined ongoing research into challenges faced when litigating women’s rights cases before regional mechanisms.
Conclusion
ISLA’s engagement at the 85th Session reflects a broader commitment: to strengthen collaboration among civil society actors and advance strategic advocacy that reinforces the African human rights system. By anchoring interventions in collective strategies and sustained campaigns, ISLA is helping to build a more coherent, accountable, and impactful civil society presence at the ACHPR.