LocationsFrom peer learning to action: Strengthening human rights protection and inclusion
August 20, 2026
Representatives of National Human Rights Institutions from sub-Saharan Africa gathered in Johannesburg to exchange practical approaches to protecting human rights and advancing inclusion.
Across Sub-Saharan Africa, National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) play a vital role in helping people access justice and protection, particularly those who are marginalized or left behind. By strengthening complaint mechanisms, monitoring human rights, improving data collection, informing public policy and working closely with communities, these institutions can make human rights, and their protection, more accessible.
Strengthening collaboration was at the heart of a regional meeting hosted by UNDP's #WeBelongAfrica programme in Johannesburg, South Africa from 22-24 July 2026.
Representatives from nine NHRIs came together to share experiences and identified approaches that could be adapted to their own countries. Participants explored how sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and issues related to sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) could be better integrated across their core human rights functions.
“Each of these human rights institutions operates in a different context and faces distinct challenges,” said Flavian Rhode, Team Leader for HIV and Inclusion, UNDP. “But each has also developed solutions tailored to its circumstances. Bringing them together provides an important opportunity to share these experiences, learn from one another, and develop context-appropriate solutions to advance LGBTI+ inclusion and sexual and reproductive health and rights.”
Participants emphasized that inclusion should not be treated as a separate area of work, rather, that it is an approach to be embedded throughout the everyday functions of NHRIs – from how complaints are received and investigated to how evidence is collected, policy recommendations are developed, the public is sensitized, and communities are consulted.
“As we carry out our work, it is important that we promote equality and inclusion for everyone, without discrimination. Engaging directly with marginalized communities strengthens our ability to do that,” said Lucy Bwalya Munthali, Senior Education and Training Officer at the Human Rights Commission of Zambia.
Protecting the rights of every person is not about introducing new values, participants noted, but about giving effect to the principles of dignity, equality and fairness that are already reflected in many African constitutions and regional human rights frameworks. Examples shared during the meeting showed how NHRIs are putting these principles into practice to ensure that human rights apply to everyone.
In Eswatini, the Commission on Human Rights and Public Administration intervened after six secondary school students were expelled over alleged same-sex relationships. The Commission engaged the Ministry of Education, reaffirmed the students’ constitutional right to education and brought together parents, community members and decision-makers to hear from affected families. Within days, the students had returned to school.
The experience showed how timely intervention can be combined with broader community engagement. Across the region, NHRIs are finding similar ways to make their services more accessible and build trust with communities that have often felt excluded from public institutions.
In Namibia, the Office of the Ombudsman recognized that fear of stigma or discrimination can prevent people from reporting human rights violations. It introduced confidential reporting channels through email and SMS, enabling people to seek help more safely. Mobile outreach teams also travel to rural communities, schools and care facilities, while investigators receive specialized training to respond to marginalized communities respectfully and in a trauma-informed manner.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the National Human Rights Commission has established specialized teams to respond to reports of arbitrary arrest and other violations. Working with community organizations, the teams conduct confidential investigations and follow cases through to resolution, helping more people access justice.
Building trust and shaping effective public policy also requires reliable information. Participants highlighted the importance of collecting better data to identify gaps in protection and to support evidence-based responses.
In Côte d'Ivoire, the National Human Rights Council worked with government departments, civil society organizations, researchers and UN partners to implement the LGBT Inclusion Index. The initiative is helping institutions better understand the challenges faced by LGBTI+ people and identify practical responses.
In several countries, testimonies shared by intersex adults with parliamentarians and with NHRIs have also opened conversations about protecting intersex children and improving public understanding.
“The Inclusion Index helped us understand the gaps in the inclusion of LGBTI+ populations, said Leonce Yapi Adon, Director of Programmes and Thematic Studies, Conseil National des Droits de l’Homme (CNDH), Côte d’Ivoire. “It highlighted gaps in areas such as health, education, violence, security and the economy. It also helped us understand what needs to be done to address them.”
Participants also considered how technology can strengthen human rights protection. In Zambia, the iVerify platform is used to monitor misinformation, disinformation and hate speech, including harmful online content during election periods. Developed with UNDP support, it enables institutions to respond more quickly while strengthening cooperation between human rights institutions and civil society, particularly for marginalised populations
These examples demonstrate that stronger human rights institutions are built not only through laws and policies, but also through partnerships, reliable evidence and meaningful engagement with the communities they serve.
The meeting took place at a time when many human rights institutions face increasingly complex environments. Participants reflected on the spread of misinformation, increasing pressure on human rights defenders and efforts in some parts of the continent that weaken existing protections. These challenges underscore the need for institutions that are independent, trusted, accountable and able to uphold and protect the human rights of all people.
The convening went beyond exchanging experiences from different country contexts. It also strengthened collaboration among NHRIs, helped participants identify approaches that could be adapted to different national contexts, and built relationships for continued cooperation.
The meeting showed the value of South-South learning as practical for NHRIs to learn from one another’s institutional experience. It enabled participants to share concrete country approaches, reflecting on what could be adapted to their own contexts and practice. This went beyond the exchange of experiences to build confidence, deepen collaboration and support NHRIs with stronger connections and renewed commitment to advancing human rights for all.
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