Celebrate Human Rights Charter’s 40th Anniversary with Concrete Action on Press Freedom- Africa Leaders Urges
As Africa prepares to mark the 40th anniversary of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (1986–2026), prominent media and human rights advocates are calling on continental leaders to move beyond symbolic commemorations and commit to the protection of press freedom.
Mr. Yao Noel, President of the Union of Journalists for African Free Press, joined by Benoit S. Ngom, Founding President of the African Diplomatic Academy, issued a powerful call for mobilization, framing the upcoming anniversary as a moment of truth for the continent’s democratic future.
The African Charter, adopted in Nairobi in 1981 and enacted in 1986, was designed to blend universal human rights with African values of solidarity and collective responsibility.
However, four decades later, advocates argue that the spirit of the document is being undermined by persistent violations. In a joint press statement, the leaders noted that while progress has been made in establishing national human rights institutions, the reality on the ground remains mixed.
The Journalists Union leader highlighted that the history of the Charter reminds us that progress in human rights is never guaranteed, noting that the initial reluctance of states and the slow pace of ratification testify to the structural resistance that human rights protections still encounter.
The call for mobilization places a specific spotlight on the escalating dangers facing media professionals across the continent.
According to the union, journalists are increasingly subjected to arbitrary detention, physical violence, abusive legal proceedings, and economic pressure.
Mr. Noel emphasized that defending the press is not a concession by governments, but a legal obligation under the Charter.
He argued that shrinking civic spaces and the silencing of journalists deprive African citizens of the pluralistic information necessary for accountability and social peace.
To ensure the 2026 anniversary marks a turning point rather than a mere ceremony, the statement outlines a clear roadmap for the continent.
It calls on African States to renew political commitments to ensure the safety of journalists while urging the African Union to strengthen mechanisms for monitoring and sanctioning rights violations.
Furthermore, it encourages civil society and academia to reclaim the Charter as a living tool for social transformation and invites African citizens to make the defense of human rights a daily, collective struggle.
The 40th anniversary coincides with a period of significant socio-political shifting in Africa.
The Advocates hope to invoke the spirit of leaders like former OAU Chairman Abdou Diouf, whose conviction-driven diplomacy helped propel the Charter into force in the 1980s.
The statement concluded with the sobering reminder that history will judge this generation not on its ability to celebrate the Charter, but on its will to live it fully.
Source: Felix Nyaaba/expressnewsghana.com
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