From 11 to 15 October 2026, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung’s (KAS) Regional Programme “Political Dialogue in West Africa” (PDWA) and the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Special Procedures organized a series of side events in Dakar on the margins of the 89th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR).
Against the backdrop of persistent human rights and democratic governance challenges in West Africa, these events sought to strengthen the capacities of civil society organizations and national human rights institutions to make better use of African and United Nations human rights mechanisms, in line with the spirit of the Addis Ababa Road Map adopted in 2012.
Dr. Stefanie Brinkel, Resident Representative of KAS in Abidjan and Director of the PDWA Programme, emphasized that human rights violations are often among the earliest indicators of a governance crisis. She also stressed that regional and international mechanisms are intended to complement and support the work of national actors rather than replace them.
Dr. Aua Baldé, member of the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID), accompanied the entire series of activities on behalf of the United Nations Special Procedures.
KAS supported the participation of around fifteen partner organizations from Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
The detailed activity report is available above.