NGO Forum on Water and Sanitation to Precede African Commission Session in Gambia

The African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS) has announced that it will host the Forum of NGOs ahead of the 87th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights from May 7 to 9, 2026, in The Gambia.

The three-day forum will take place at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre and is expected to bring together civil society organisations, human rights defenders, policymakers, and development partners from across Africa and beyond.

Organised as a precursor to the ACHPR session, the forum serves as a strategic platform for stakeholders to deliberate on pressing human rights issues and coordinate advocacy efforts. This year’s discussions will be held under the theme: “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063.”

According to organisers, the theme highlights the urgent need to address water security, sanitation, and hygiene challenges as fundamental human rights and key pillars of sustainable development across the continent. Participants will explore policy frameworks, accountability mechanisms, and innovative solutions aimed at ensuring equitable access to safe water and sanitation services in line with Agenda 2063.

The forum will feature panel discussions, thematic sessions, and strategy meetings focusing on the intersection of environmental sustainability, public health, and social justice. Outcomes from the engagements are expected to shape key advocacy positions and recommendations to be presented during the ACHPR session.

ACDHRS has extended an open invitation to civil society actors and stakeholders to participate in what it describes as a critical platform for dialogue, collaboration, and collective action on human rights in Africa.