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The Executive Director of the CFJ calls for strengthening mechanisms to combat impunity in Africa at an NGO Forum side event  

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Press Release

 

In his opening remarks during a panel discussion on combating impunity in Africa, held on the sidelines of the NGO Forum, Ahmed Mefreh, the Executive Director of the “Committee for Justice,” stressed the importance of addressing impunity, which occurs when perpetrators of crimes are not held accountable.

 

– Weakness of government institutions:

Mefreh pointed out that the weakness of government institutions, especially those concerned with justice and law enforcement, is a primary cause of this phenomenon, leading to the worsening of governance and development issues across the continent.

The Executive Director of the “Committee for Justice” also highlighted the critical role that the African human rights system plays in combating impunity and human rights violations, while at the same time expressing regret over the lack of sufficient support and resources for this system to effectively carry out its mission.

Mefreh added that a significant challenge lies in the lack of awareness among many about how these human rights mechanisms operate or how to access them.

 

– The “Arusha Initiative”:

Mefreh called for rights holders in Africa to go beyond merely demanding government support, emphasizing the importance of direct contributions to strengthen human rights mechanisms and provide them with the tools and resources necessary to carry out their duties.

He also mentioned the “Arusha Initiative,” launched in 2023, which was a collaboration between civil society organizations and national human rights institutions. The initiative aims to promote a fair and transparent process for selecting leaders of human rights mechanisms in Africa. Mefreh encouraged the attendees to join this initiative to build the Africa everyone aspires to, under the leadership of strong human rights institutions that serve all citizens.

For more information and media requests or inquiries, please get in touch with us (+41229403538 / media@cfjustice.org)

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