African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights calls to Protect and Promote of the Rights of Communities Discriminated based on Work and Descent

Paul Divakar, addressing challenges facing Discriminated community around the world to Joirnalists 

Special Reporter, Arusha

The Non-Governmental Organization forum of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has passed resolution to Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Communities Discriminated based on Work and Descent in the continent.

This resolution marks a significant milestone in the ongoing struggle to address discrimination based on work and descent and to protect and promote the rights and dignity of CDWD across Africa.

The Global Forum of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (GFOD) is a global forum of communities oppressed due to casteism, traditional and modern forms of slavery.

Speaking during the ACHPR meeting in Arusha The Convenor of GFOD, Paul Divakar said GFOD has been intervening at the ACHPR to demand the rights of the marginalised communities and recognize them and demand full realization of their rights.

The ACHPR, comprising of representatives from various African nations, NGOs and other stakeholder groups convened in Arusha, Tanzania from 16th-18th of October 2023, to deliberate on this vital issue.

Divakar Said after intense discussions, the NGO forum of the Commission unanimously adopted a comprehensive resolution dedicated to combat discrimination against CDWD.

He added the NGO forum acknowledged that discrimination based on work and descent is widespread across the Africa and that multiple, aggravated, and intersecting forms of discrimination impact women, children and youth, persons with disabilities, and those of diverse sexual orientation and gender identity, which makes them more vulnerable to the denial of their human rights in par with others.

“In order to tackle discrimination based on work and descent, the NGO Forum of the ACPHR we Calls upon States Parties to acknowledge the existence of discrimination based on work and descent as a distinct form of discrimination that deserves the attention of the African community and that affects peoples across Africa” He said



Further calls upon States Parties to take all necessary constitutional, legislative, administrative, budgetary, judicial, educational, and social measures to eliminate discrimination based on work and descent in their respective states and respect, protect, promote, restitute, implement and monitor the human rights of those facing this discrimination, including thorough, robust disaggregated data collection in line with data protection and data privacy principles;



Divakar Said They Urges States Parties, in collaboration with the National Human Rights Institutions, civil society organisations and human rights defenders belonging to communities discriminated on work and descent, to combat prejudicial beliefs and practices in all their forms, including notions of untouchability, pollution and caste superiority or inferiority, as well as prevent human rights violations taken on the basis of such beliefs;



“ We Requests the Africa Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to initiate a process to realise a continental study on the situation of communities discriminated on work and descent to be shared with the African Union organs and institutions” Mr Divakar Said



Decides to establish a Working Group on Discrimination Based on Work and Descent, composed of Members of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, with the participation of representatives of communities discriminated on work and descent, further study the practices of discrimination based on work and descent in the African region and their impact on the realization of human rights under the African Charter, with the aim of developing further interventions to prevent discrimination based on work and descent.

Ms Queen Bisseng, addressing issues of the discriminated community to Journalists

Ms Queen Bisseng, Africa Co-ordinator, GFOD Said.The passing of this resolution generates visibility for the various regional communities in Africa oppressed by caste and caste-like structures, encourages the state and other mechanisms to address their issues nationally and regionally, and is a significant step towards a United Nations Declaration recognizing and protecting the rights of CDWD globally.

, “ Africa has a long-standing issue of slavery and slavery practices, Caste like structures and descent of particular communities within the ethnic groups plays a large role in their marginalization”she Said

Johannes Butcher UN advocacy officer speaking to Joirnalists

Johannes Butcher UN advocacy officer said “ We are encouraged by the ACHPR to adopt this resolution and it is a major stride towards a more inclusive and equitable Africa, where all individuals, regardless of their work and descent, can enjoy their human rights and freedoms without the fear of discrimination.

” It is a testament to the continent's commitment to upholding the principles of human rights and people's dignity”

“ The centuries-old, pre-colonial form of discrimination and enslavement is based on highly complex internalized social systems and structures. So this resolution represents hope for a brighter and more inclusive future for CDWD throughout Africa and other Continent” He Said.