A Call to African Commission

This report focuses on the voice of custodian communities from six African countries, who have taken it upon themselves to revive and protect their valuable traditions and cultures by taking their case to the African Commission. Their statement emphasises how their customary governance systems operated since before recorded time, derived from their sacred natural sites and territories.

Their Call to Action forms the essence of the legislative response requested by the African Commission – to develop policy and legal recognition for sacred natural sites and territories and their customary governance systems. The report provides context and analysis as motivation for the legislative response that is being sought. In addition, it provides a discussion on plural legal systems, reminding the reader that the African Charter is committed to plural or multiple legal frameworks.

Finally, the report also touches on the developing legal jurisprudence within the countries of Africa in favour of recognising the importance of sacred natural sites and territories.