RHION condemns African Rights Charter proposal

A coalition of human rights organizations operating under the banner Refusing Harm in Our Name (RHION) has strongly criticized the outcome of the 4th African Inter-Parliamentary Conference held in Accra from June 3 to June 5, 2026, describing a proposed charter discussed at the event as a threat to human rights across the continent.

In a press release issued on June 5, RHION accused conference participants of promoting a policy document that seeks to roll back protections for women, children, young people, and minority groups under the guise of advancing “African Family Values and the Sovereignty of African States.”

The coalition argued that the conference, attended by African parliamentarians and policymakers and spearheaded by Ghana’s Speaker of Parliament, focused more on securing support for the proposed charter than addressing Africa’s pressing development challenges.

According to RHION, the charter undermines established human rights standards in Africa and internationally by attempting to restrict sexual and reproductive health rights, promote discrimination, and narrow definitions of African identities and family structures.

The group further rejected suggestions that modern human rights principles are “un-African,” insisting that Africa’s history of liberation struggles and justice movements reflects a long-standing commitment to dignity, freedom, and equality.

RHION also warned against efforts to weaken regional human rights frameworks such as the African Charter and the Maputo Protocol, arguing that such moves could erode protections guaranteed to citizens across the continent.

Describing the proposed charter as a serious threat to democratic institutions and social progress, the coalition called on Ghana and other African states to reject any formal or informal endorsement of the document.

The organization further urged civil society groups, media institutions, and citizens across Africa to scrutinize the long-term implications of the proposal and resist attempts to curtail rights and freedoms in the name of cultural or family values.

RHION concluded that any discussion about Africa’s future should be grounded in human dignity, informed consent, coexistence, and freedom rather than policies it believes could legitimize exclusion and discrimination.