Resolution on the Designation of His Excellency Duma Gideon Boko, President of the Republic of Botswana, as the Champion for the Rights of Indigenous Populations/Communities in Africa - ACHPR. Res. 668(LXXXVIII) 2026
The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (the African Commission), meeting at its 88th Ordinary Session, held virtually, from 17 to 31 July 2026:Recalling Articles 30 and 45 of the African Charter. . .
The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (the African Commission), meeting at its 88th Ordinary Session, held virtually, from 17 to 31 July 2026:Recalling Articles 30 and 45 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (the African Charter), which established the African Commission and mandates it to promote and protect human and peoples' rights in Africa;Recalling also Articles 2, 19, 20, 21, 22, and 24 of the African Charter, which guarantee equality, non-discrimination, the rights of peoples to self-determination, development, natural resources, and a satisfactory environment;Bearing in mind the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas, the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention (ILO Convention No. 169), as well as other relevant international and regional human rights instruments;Recalling further its Resolution ACHPR/Res. 51(XXVIII)00 on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples’ Communities in Africa, which established the Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities in Africa, adopted in 2000, establishing the Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities in Africa, as well as the numerous resolutions subsequently adopted by the African Commission concerning the protection and promotion of the rights of Indigenous Peoples across the continent;Recognizing the important work undertaken by the African Commission's Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities and Minorities in Africa in promoting recognition of Indigenous Peoples, monitoring protection and violations of their rights, developing normative standards, conducting promotional missions, engaging with States Parties, and supporting Indigenous communities throughout Africa;Recalling the landmark jurisprudence of the African Commission, as well as the jurisprudence of the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights, which affirm the collective rights of Indigenous Peoples under the African Charter;Recognizing further that Indigenous Peoples and communities in some parts of Africa continue to face significant challenges, including dispossession of ancestral lands, marginalization, discrimination, exclusion from development processes, climate-related vulnerabilities, threats to their cultural heritage, and limited participation in decision-making affecting their lives and livelihoods;Acknowledging the increasing recognition of the rights of Indigenous Peoples within the continent, including measures aimed at promoting dialogue, reconciliation, respect for cultural heritage, and the protection of Indigenous communities;Noting with appreciation the request made by participants in the Stakeholders’ Validation Meeting on the African Commission’s Draft Study on the Mapping of Indigenous Populations and Communities in Africa, held in Addis Ababa, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, from 7 to 8 February 2026, inviting His Excellency Duma Gideon Boko, President of the Republic of Botswana, to champion the rights of Indigenous Populations/Communities in Africa, and his subsequent gracious acceptance of that request;Convinced that sustained political leadership at the highest level will significantly strengthen advocacy, awareness, policy dialogue, and implementation of the rights of Indigenous Peoples throughout Africa;The African Commission hereby resolves to:1. Designate His Excellency Duma Gideon Boko, President of the Republic of Botswana, as the Champion for the Rights of Indigenous Populations/Communities in Africa. 2. Commend His Excellency President Duma Boko for accepting this important continental responsibility and for his demonstrated commitment to promoting and protecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples. 3. Request the Champion, working closely with the African Commission through the Chairperson of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities and Minorities in Africa, to:a) advocate for the recognition, protection, and promotion of the rights of Indigenous Peoples across Africa;b) encourage States Parties to implement the African Charter, the African Commission's jurisprudence and decisions/recommendations relating to Indigenous Peoples, including recommendations emanating from different reports and studies of the African Commission;c) promote legal and policy reforms aimed at protecting the land, natural resources, cultural, and development rights of Indigenous Peoples;d) support meaningful participation of Indigenous Peoples in national, regional, and continental decision-making processes;e) promote dialogue among governments, Indigenous communities, traditional leaders, national human rights institutions, civil society organizations, and development partners;f) raise awareness of Indigenous knowledge systems, languages, cultures, and traditional governance institutions as valuable components of Africa's heritage and sustainable development;g) advocate for the inclusion of Indigenous Peoples' concerns within Agenda 2063 implementation, climate action, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development initiatives. 4. Call upon States Parties to cooperate with the Champion and with the African Commission in advancing the rights of Indigenous Peoples and to adopt legislative, administrative, and policy measures to ensure the effective enjoyment of their rights under the African Charter. 5. Encourage Regional Economic Communities, National Human Rights Institutions, civil society organizations, Indigenous Peoples' organizations, development partners, and other stakeholders to support the Champion in the discharge of this mandate. 6. Request the Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities and Minorities in Africa to work closely with the Champion in implementing this mandate and to report periodically to the African Commission on progress achieved through the Activity Report of the Chairperson of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities and Minorities in Africa. Done virtually on 31 July 2026