Issued by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), March 2026 — Principles Engaged: 23, 27, 32, 39, 40, 41, 42, 49
Submission Date: May 2026
Response(s) to the call for inputs:
Pierre J. D. (2026). Defending Rights in a Disappearing State: Climate-Exposed Human Rights Defenders, Blue Economy Governance, and the Structural Inadequacy of the Enabling Environment Framework for African Small Island Developing States.
This submission was presented to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in response to a formal call for inputs on the Draft Declaration on the Promotion of the Role of Human and Peoples’ Rights Defenders and Their Protection in Africa. Focused on African Indian Ocean SIDS, it identifies the structural inadequacy of the Declaration’s enabling environment framework for jurisdictions whose territorial identity is oceanic and whose institutional capacity is compressed by climate-related fiscal constraints. It proposes a SIDS-specific capacity sub-principle, an extension of extractive industries protections to marine and blue economy contexts, and a supplementary reporting mechanism for violations by extraterritorial actors. Relevant to SIDS policy specialists, environmental human rights practitioners, and climate justice advocates.
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