Dakar Forum Features Algeria’s Human Rights, Development Push
Algeria’s delegation actively engaged in the 89th session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR), held in Dakar, Senegal. Led by Maya Fadel Sahli, President of the National Council for Human Rights (CNDH), and accompanied by Matouk Smaoun, the delegation participated in the NGO Forum and various debates with continental experts. This involvement underscores Algeria's objective to enhance its presence within African human rights protection mechanisms and foster cooperation across the continent.
Consistent with its historical dedication to liberation causes and African unity, Algeria championed a global and sovereign approach to human rights during the session. The nation advocates against the political instrumentalization of rights, prioritizing the fundamental right of peoples to development, peace, and control over their resources. Algeria’s sustained advocacy within the African Union aims to reinforce the African Commission and Court of Human and Peoples' Rights, promote the harmonization of national legal frameworks with the African Charter, and ensure the effective implementation of decisions made by continental bodies. The country also contributes to facilitation and consensus-building efforts, regularly hosting continental meetings, training sessions, and exchange workshops for national human rights institutions, thereby establishing Algiers as a hub of expertise.
Furthermore, Algeria highlighted the crucial link between human rights and socio-economic development, urging continental policies to integrate poverty eradication, access to education and healthcare, and the protection of vulnerable populations as essential components of fundamental rights. The CNDH plays a pivotal role in this framework, connecting national experiences with the broader African dynamic through continuous dialogue with civil society, educational initiatives, and the processing of requests. Algeria’s expertise in training, capacity building, and prevention mechanisms is frequently sought by African networks of national human rights institutions, showcasing its leadership in advancing a human rights culture rooted in social realities. Through these endeavors, Algeria affirms its commitment to actively contributing to a unified African vision of human rights, grounded in shared values of solidarity, justice, and dignity.
