Right to Truth Day
2026-03-24
International Day for the Right to Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims is commemorated on March 24.

ECtHR Hrg: Kavala v. Turkiye
2026-03-25 | Human Rights Building, Strasbourg, France
The Grand Chamber of the ECtHR will hold another hearing in the case of Kavala v. Turkiye (no. 2170/24) at 9:15 am at the Human Rights Building in Strasbourg, France. Court hearings are public and may be viewed via webcast or in person. Pre-registration is required for in-person attendance.

Slavery Victim Remembrance Day
2026-03-25
International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade is observed on March 25.

Call for Input, OHCHR (elections)
2026-03-27
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is seeking input to inform the drafting of a report on good practices and challenges that States face when using the guidelines on the effective implementation of the right to participate in public affairs, with a particular focus on participation in elections.

AfCHPR, Observations on Advisory Opinion Request Due
2026-03-30
The African Court on Human & Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR) is accepting submissions of written observations to inform its consideration of Advisory Opinion No. 001/2025 concerning the Obligations of States with respect to the Climate Change Crisis. The deadline for filing such observations has been extended to March 30, 2026. Those interested in filing an amicus brief, who have not specifically been invited by the Court to submit observations, must first apply for leave to submit before filing their observations. For more detailed guidance on this process, please view our Newsroom post on the topic.

Further information can be obtained from www.african-court.org Telephone: +255 272 510 510
For further inquiries: Acting Registrar, Ms Grace Wakio Kakai – Grace.Wakio@african-court.org
Senior Legal Officer: Dr. Mwiza Nkhata Mwiza.Nkhata@african-court.org

Call for Input, UN SR on the human right to a healthy environment
2026-03-30
The UN Special Rapporteur on the human right to a healthy environment has issued a call for input to inform a thematic report on planning processes and tools for the advancement of the protection of the right to a healthy environment, to be presented to the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.

Call for Input, UN SR on the right to development
2026-03-31
The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to development has issued a call for input in preparation for their country visit to Kazakhstan.

Call for Input, OHCHR (impact of drugs on women and girls)
2026-03-31
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has issued a call for input to inform the drafting process of a report on “the impact of drug policies on the rights of women and girls.”

ACHPR, Call for information on prisons and conditions of detention
2026-03-31
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) is gathering information to contribute to secondary data collection process under the Study on Prisons, Conditions of detention in Africa. Through its Special Mechanism on Prisons, Conditions of Detention and Police Action in Africa, the Commission has officially commenced the process of secondary data collection for its continental study on prisons and conditions of detention. This study, anchored on Resolution ACHPR/Res.557 (LXXV) 2023, and Article 6 of the African Charter, seeks to identify the root causes of human rights violations in prisons and places of detention, and to provide practical recommendations for reform and paradigm shift across Africa. Email submissions to achpr.SMPrisons@africanunion.org.

ACERWC, Deadline for Side Event Applications, 47th Ord. Session
2026-03-31
The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) is scheduled to hold its 47th Ordinary Session from April 17 to 25, 2026. The ACERWC invites those interested in organizing a side event to submit a concept note along with a proposed programme for their event via email to acerwc-secretariat@africanunion.org by March 31.

Deadline for Requesting to Attend WGEID Session
2026-04-03 | Abidjan, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
The UN Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) is scheduled to hold its 139th session in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire in May 2026. Those interested in meeting with the experts of the Working Group during the session should notify the Secretariat at the UN OHCHR via e-mail: hrc-wg-eid@un.org. Deadline April 3.

Mine Awareness Day
2026-04-04
International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action is observed on April 4.

Call for Input, UN IE to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement (EMLER)
2026-04-06
The UN’s International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement (EMLER) is calling for inputs to inform an upcoming visit to Colombia.

World Health Day
2026-04-07
The World Health Organization’s World Health Day is observed on April 7.

Rwandan Genocide Remembrance
2026-04-07
Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Rwanda Genocide is observed on April 7.

Deadline to Register for PFPAD
2026-04-08
The 5th session of the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent (PFPAD) will take place in Geneva, Switzerland starting April 14. All interested participants must register through the UN’s Indico system by 11:59PM (Central European Time) on Wednesday, April 8.

UN Conference on Humanitarian Action, Remedy, and Responsibility in unilateral sanctions environment
2026-04-09 - 2026-04-10 | Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland
The UN will be holding a Conference on Humanitarian Action, Remedy, and Responsibility in unilateral sanctions environment on April 9 and 10 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. The purpose of this conference is to provide a forum to discuss the draft Guiding principles on humanitarian action in the face of unilateral sanctions, Guiding principles on effective remedy and responsibility in unilateral sanctions environment and a Commentary thereto, and to address the most important aspects of interaction of different categories of states, private actors, delivery of humanitarian assistance, other types of humanitarian action, from the perspective of international law. Registration is open via the UN’s Indico system.

Call for Input, UN EM to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement (EMLER)
2026-04-10
The UN’s International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement (EMLER) is calling for inputs to inform an upcoming report on systemic racism against Africans and people of African descent in the enforcement of drug laws and policies.

UPR, Civil Society Submissions Due
2026-04-10
Written submissions from civil society due regarding the October 2026 Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Suriname, Greece, Samoa, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Hungary, Papua New Guinea, Tajikistan, United Republic of Tanzania, Antigua and Barbuda, Eswatini, Trinidad and Tobago, Thailand, Ireland, and United States of America.*
*(from the civil society participation webpage) “IMPORTANT NOTICE: Regarding the review of the United States of America . . . only those organizations that contributed to the 2025 pre-session UPR reports of the USA will be invited to submit an update . . . .”

Call for Input, UN SR on violence against women and girls
2026-04-10
The UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls has issued a call for input on violence against older women to inform their report and recommendations to the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Call for Input, UN SR on contemporary forms of racism
2026-04-10
The UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism has issued a call for input on contemporary forms of racism in sports.

Call for Input, UN SR on contemporary forms of racism
2026-04-10
The UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism has issued a call for input on report on combating glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to fueling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

Deadline, statements & panel requests - ACHPR 87
2026-04-11 | Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre, Banjul, Gambia
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) will hold its 87th Ordinary Session in May.
Those who wish to make a statement during the session must register to do so by April 11. Registration for panel interventions is also due April 11.
Stakeholders who wish to participate in the session must register by April 25.

Call for Input, OHCHR (national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities)
2026-04-13
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has issued a call for input to inform the 2026 report of the Secretary-General on the Rights of Persons belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, to be presented at the 81st session of the General Assembly. The High Commissioner is seeking relevant information to ensure the realization of the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities.

Call for Input, OHCHR (People of African Descent and excessive force)
2026-04-13
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has issued a call for input to inform the preparation of their 2026 report on “Promotion and protection of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Africans and of people of African descent against excessive use of force and other human rights violations by law enforcement officers through transformative change for racial justice and equality.”

Session, UN WG on the use of mercenaries
2026-04-13 - 2026-04-17 | Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland
The UN Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the rights of peoples to self-determination is scheduled to hold its 56th session in Geneva, Switzerland.

Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) 188
2026-04-13 - 2026-04-24
The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) is scheduled to hold its 188th session.

Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) 117
2026-04-13 - 2026-05-01 | Palais Wilson, Geneva, Switzerland
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) is scheduled to hold its 117th session from April 13 to May 1. During this session, the CERD will consider State reports from Burkina Faso, Cuba, Cyprus, Serbia, Slovenia, Uzbekistan, and Tonga; and follow-up reports from Albania, Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Qatar, and Turkmenistan. A provisional agenda and a program of work are available on the session page. Guidance for civil society, NGOs, and NHRIs is available on the Committee’s webpage. Registration is open for all in-person attendees. All public meetings of the Committee are also generally webcast live on UN WebTV.

Committee Against Torture (CAT) 84
2026-04-13 - 2026-05-01 | Palais Wilson, Geneva, Switzerland
The Committee Against Torture (CAT) is scheduled to hold its 84th session from April 13 to May 1. During this session the CAT will consider State reports from Gabon, Italy, Pakistan, and Tajikistan; and lists of issues prior to reporting for Brazil, Colombia, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, and Switzerland. A Program of Work and an information note for civil society actors are available on the session page. Registration for in-person attendance is open via the UN’s Indico platform. All public meetings of the Committee are also generally webcast live on UN WebTV.

United Nations Permanent Forum on People of African Descent (PFPAD) 5
2026-04-14 - 2026-04-17 | Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland
The 5th session of the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent (PFPAD) will take place in Geneva, Switzerland.
Applications for financial support must be submitted by February 20, 2026.
All interested participants must register through the UN’s Indico system by 11:59PM (Central European Time) on Wednesday, April 8.
The session will also be broadcasted via UN Web TV to follow the discussions in real-time with interpretation.
If you have any questions, please contact the PFPAD Secretariat at pfpad@un.org.
