Here are key items we suggest for planning and holding a side event, taking into account preparation, session and follow-up.
At the 77th ordinary session of the African Commission, ISHR, in collaboration with KUTAKESA and African Defenders, held a side event on restrictive laws affecting human rights defenders in Africa, focusing mainly on recently-observed trends regarding the restriction of freedom of association and other measures limiting civic space. The discussion specifically delved into the misapplication and misuse of international anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism financing standards by governments, either unintentionally or intentionally, to over-regulate and unduly restrict the work of human rights defenders and civil society organisations. This side event was an example of bringing together human rights NGOs from across the continent to shed light and share expertise on an under-discussed, under-estimated emerging threat to human rights defenders in Africa, and build capacity around it.
See the next sections on how you can engage in other actions of the African Commission, including the adoption of resolutions.
