During the 81st regular session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, ISHR co-hosted a side event on human rights in Palestine on 16 October 2024.
The event will highlight the Commission, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and African civil society movements to ensure the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to self-determination and freedom from apartheid and genocide. We explored the role that can be played. Respected.
The discussion came after the African Commission adopted a less bold position on the Palestinian conflict, but states parties’ obligations are unclear, particularly regarding the protection of the most vulnerable people and human rights defenders.
African Charter and Palestine
Saleh Hijazi of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement recalled the preamble of the African Charter, in which states parties committed to eliminating all forms of foreign domination of peoples, including Zionism.
Mr. Hijazi reiterated the ultimate need for African countries and the European Commission to take strong and swift steps to protect the rights of the Palestinian people. For him, the International Court of Justice has demonstrated how Israel’s policies and illegal occupation of territory violate international legal norms that African countries and the ACHPR are bound to uphold.
Human rights defenders who oppose such occupations are often targeted by the state. The IHR previously required States to immediately and unconditionally detain all individuals arbitrarily detained “for the exercise of their rights to peaceful assembly, freedom of association and freedom of expression in Israel/the occupied Palestinian territories.” I’m asking you to release me.
Resolute attitude required
The panellists urged the African Commission to bring Israel into compliance with its international human rights obligations by ending the occupation and ending the intimidation and criminalization of Palestinian rights and civil society and activists who advocate respect for them. It recommended the adoption of a courageous resolution calling on States parties to Ending the alleged crimes of apartheid and genocide against the Palestinian people.
During the session, Algeria and South Africa also recommended that the Commission take a clear position on international law and human rights violations in Palestine. The Chair of the African Commission promised that these issues would be taken up in closed session.
