The year 2026 marks a momentous occasion for the African continent and its human rights architecture; the 40^th anniversary of the coming into force of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Charter), and the 20^th anniversary of the operationalization of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Court).

Established in 2006 as the judicial arm of the African Union (AU), the African Court was established to complement and reinforce the vital work of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Commission), providing a crucial continental avenue for judicial redress of human rights violations. Over the past two decades, the African Court has incrementally evolved into a substantial body of jurisprudence, delivering landmark judgments that have illuminated complex human rights issues, challenged impunity, and contributed to the evolving understanding and protection of human and peoples’ rights across Africa. Despite its progress, the Court still operates within significant challenges that range from limited access by African citizens to slow implementation of its decisions by State Parties to the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Court Protocol). The significant milestone of two decades transcends a mere chronological marker, it presents an unparalleled opportunity for deep introspection, rigorous assessment, and forward-looking strategic planning.

The overarching purpose of the 2026 Platform is multifaceted. It offers space to reflect on the African Court’s journey thus far, celebrating its foundational contributions by looking at the evolution of its jurisprudence and how it has contributed to the protection and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms on the continent. The Platform is also an opportunity to assess persistent challenges and constraints facing the Court’s work and mandate, ranging from issues of accessibility and visibility, to the crucial imperative of compliance and implementation of its decisions by State Parties. With the reflections on these crucial areas, the gathering is expected to collectively envision and redefine the African Court’s indispensable role for the next decade and beyond, charting a strategic course that equips it to address emerging human rights complexities and maintain its relevance in a rapidly changing continental and global landscape.

Leveraging the African Court Coalition’s commitment to fostering dialogue and collaboration among diverse stakeholders and building on the success of the 2025 inaugural Stakeholders’ Platform which brought together diverse stakeholders to reflect on pertinent issues relevant to the functioning of the African Court, the 2026 Stakeholders’ Platform is conceptualized as a continuation of constructive deliberations geared towards generating outcomes that are significant in enhancing the African Court’s overall effectiveness, broaden its accessibility to African citizens seeking redress for human rights violations, and solidify its enduring legitimacy as a cornerstone of human rights protection across Africa. Through facilitated robust deliberations and collaborative engagement, the 2026 Stakeholders’ Platform aims to generate a suite of actionable recommendations and foster strengthened partnerships.