In an endeavour to reinforce democratic processes and uphold human rights during electoral periods, the  Association francophone des Commissions nationales des Droits de l’homme (AFCNDH), in collaboration with the Cameroon Human Rights Commission (CHRC), convened a pivotal two-day regional workshop on electoral standards and the obligations of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs). The event held at the Mont Febe Hotel from 30th to 31st July 2025, is of critical importance for safeguarding human rights, the rule of law and preventing torture and other abuses during the electoral period.

The convening assembled a diverse array of stakeholders, including government officials, diplomatic representatives, heads of institutions, members from NHRIs across Africa, civil society organizations and staff members of the CHRC. The workshop provided a platform for dialogue, capacity-building, strategic collaboration and the exchange of best practices in the promotion of electoral integrity and human rights.

The workshop presented an opportunity for NHRIs to share insights into their vital role before, during, and after electoral processes, with an emphasis on a collective commitment to fostering transparency, accountability and the conduct of peaceful and credible elections. The overarching goal was to leverage the expertise of AFCNDH member organizations to enhance the efficacy of NHRIs in election observation, the protection of electoral rights and the monitoring of electoral disputes.

In his opening speech, Prof James Mouangue Kobila, Chairperson of the CHRC welcome all participants especially those fromBenin, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as to members of government, the diplomatic corps and civil society stakeholders. He underscored the importance of strengthening institutional capacity, deepening inters organisational cooperation and ensuring compliance with international and regional legal instruments governing electoral processes in Africa.

The chairperson also highlighted that the workshop co-organised with AFCNDH aims to address pressing challenges including limited visibility of NHRIs during elections, inadequate monitoring mechanism and insufficient integration within national electoral frameworks. He affirmed that “Elections are not only about ballots and votes; they are about dignity, rights, and the credibility of democratic institutions. The CHRC stands as a bridge between the people, civil society, and the State, to ensure that elections in Cameroon and beyond are free, fair, and conducted with respect for human rights”. He   also celebrated the CHRC’s recent accreditation with ‘A’ status by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) and the Human rights High commission (HRHC) earned through compliance with the Paris Principles and which strengthens the commission’s capacity to play a substantial role in the promotion and protection of electoral rights in Cameroon and beyond.

Participants expressed their commitment to achieving the workshop’s objectives which includes fortifying the capacity of NHRIs in election observation, developing best practices for safeguarding electoral rights and fostering regional cooperation to respond effectively to electoral challenges. A participant shared his opinion with us; Mr. Christopher Voma, senior staff at the Observation Intervention and Alert Unit, described the session as highly enriching. He explained that “the discussions enabled NHRIs to share their operational methods across countries while clarifying the procedures to mark election observers. He stressed the importance of distinguishing observation from participation, understanding the successive stages of electoral observation, and recognizing the value of submitting observation reports before the official results are proclaimed as is the practice in Benin, so that electoral bodies canaddress identified violations in a timely manner “ The Discussions encompassed legal frameworks for elections,  raise awareness of citizens about their , civic rights, mechanisms for conflict prevention, reporting, adjudication as well as the formulation forrecommendation.

The collaboration between AFCNDH and the CHRC underscores the value of cross-regional cooperation in strengthening democratic governance with French-speaking African nations. The workshop featured expert presentations from fellow French-speaking NHRIs, representatives from the National Communication Council, officials from Elections Cameroun (ELECAM) and resource persons from the CHRC. As one NHRI representative observed: « In the near future, several countries in the Francophone African region will hold presidential, legislative or local elections. These electoral processes are of critical importance for the consolidation of democracy, political stability and the promotion of human rights. ».

Following the dissemination of resources and information, particular attention was directed towards upcoming electoral events in member states, notably:

• Cameroon: Presidential elections scheduled for 12^th October 2025
• Côte d’Ivoire: Presidential elections scheduled for 26^th October 2025
• Benin: Presidential elections scheduled for April 2026
• Democratic Republic of Congo: Elections held in December 2023

The workshop calls on National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), electoral stakeholders, and civil society organizations in French-speaking Africa. The following recommendations were proposed;

• enhance the capacity of NHRIs in election observation, monitoring, and conflict management during electoral processes
• promote transparency, accountability, and credibility in upcoming electoral events through the exchange of best practices and joint action
• ensure effective integration of NHRIs into national electoral frameworks to safeguard human rights and protect electoral integrity
• foster regional cooperation among NHRIs to respond to electoral challenges, prevent human rights violations, and guarantee peaceful and credible elections.

                     These jurisdictions are setting the stage for electoral processes that aspire to be free, fair, transparent, credible, and peaceful. The CHRC continues to advocate for the public to report all human rights violations through its toll-free number, 1523 as part of its broader mandate to uphold electoral integrity and protect fundamental rights.