Synergía team attended the 73rd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) in October 2022 in Banjul, The Gambia. This session marked the first in-person ACHPR meeting after two and a half years of virtual sessions due to the pandemic. 

Synergía facilitated the participation of human rights defenders from Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Equatorial Guinea. In particular, participation of activists from Lusophone and Spanish-speaking African countries is part of an effort that Synergía is undertaking to strengthen the engagement of countries whose commitment with the regional human rights system has been very limited. Guinea Bissau, São Tomé and Principe, and Equatorial Guinea are yet to submit their initial country report to the ACHPR under article 62 of the Charter.

Together with ISLA, the Centre for Human Rights of the University of Pretoria, Pan Africa ILGA, Outright International, and Amnesty International, Synergía co-hosted the ACHPR CSO Side Events (ACSE), a space meant to strengthen skills of human rights defenders engaging with the regional system and to empower them to actively participate in the ordinary sessions.