African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights
The African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR) was established in 1987 by the Organization for African Unity and now acts as a commission of the African Union (AU). As the principal body of the AU tasked with issues of human rights, the ACHPR plays an integral role in achieving equality and stability in Africa. Delegates will specifically simulate the Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities in Africa (WGIP), which was founded by the ACHPR in 2000.
In this committee, delegates will be tasked with tackling a breadth of complex and intricate issues relating to indigenous rights. Topic A will focus on the integration and coordination of activities related to indigenous issues within the ACHPR. Therefore, this committee will have to reflect on the successes and failures of the ACHPR in order to promote inclusive policies that center Indigenous voices and promote multicultural representation. Given that governments often fail to consult Indigenous communities and account for the vast diversity within Indigenous populations, this commission must specifically address the issue of representation.
Topic B is centered on Indigenous people’s right to land. The issue of indigenous land rights is inextricably linked to the history of dispossession, marginalization, and forced removal associated with colonization. With a focus on environmental preservation and heritage, as they relate to land tenure and land rights, this commission must fulfill its mandate to protect Indigenous peoples’ right to clean, accessible, safe, and sustainable land. The AU, and by extension the ACHPR and WGIP, operates under the terms of Agenda 2063, a comprehensive framework that seeks to promote unity, inclusivity, and sustainability in Africa. Delegates are encouraged to keep the guidelines, aspirations, and flagship projects of Agenda 2063 in mind while developing innovative and unique policies. The dais looks forward to a weekend of engaging debate at McMun 2025!
