AJJF and PALU to convene webinar on 14 August 2026 examining how Africa’s judiciaries can safeguard civic space as states tighten PVO regulation
Civic space — the freedom of citizens to organize, speak out, and participate in public affairs — is a cornerstone of democratic governance. It is a human right rooted in the freedoms of expression, association, and peaceful assembly, and the right to participate in public affairs, guaranteed under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Articles 9, 10, and 11) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Articles 19, 21, and 22).
In recent years, a growing number of African governments have enacted, or are revising, legislation to tighten the regulation of Private Voluntary Organizations (PVOs). Some governments justify these measures as necessary to combat money laundering and terrorism financing — legitimate objectives in any constitutional democracy. But when such laws are drafted or applied without regard for regional and international legal standards, they risk becoming tools to shrink civic space rather than protect it, particularly by undermining the freedom of association and the right to participate in public affairs.
A Webinar on the Judiciary’s Role
Against this backdrop, the Africa Judges and Jurists Forum (AJJF), in collaboration with the Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU), is convening a webinar under the Civic Space Programme titled “Judiciary and Civic Space in Africa: Regulation of Private Voluntary Organizations.”
The webinar will spotlight recent trends in the legal regulation of PVOs across Africa and their impact on civic space. Discussions will also examine the regional and international normative standards that legislation regulating PVOs must comply with, and the critical role of the judiciary in enforcing those standards. Presentations will be delivered by human rights defenders, jurists, and eminent judges from across the continent.
Event Details
Date: 14 August 2026
Time: 1200hrs East Africa Time (EAT)
Main Speaker: Justice Prof. O.B.K. Dingake, Chairperson of the Africa Judges and Jurists Forum
Program
| Time | Topic | Speaker |
| 12:00 – 12:05 EAT | Welcome remarks | AJJF |
| 12:05 – 12:25 EAT | Civic Space and Democratic Regression in Africa | Justice Prof. O.B.K. Dingake (AJJF) |
| 12:25 – 12:40 EAT | Trends in the Regulation of PVOs in Africa | PALU |
| 12:45 – 13:05 EAT | Normative Legal Standards on the Regulation of PVOs | Dr Justice Alfred Mavedzenge |
| 13:05 – 13:25 EAT | Plenary Discussion | Ms Damaris Kemunto |
| 13:25 – 13:30 EAT | Closing remarks | PALU |
Why It Matters
Judges and jurists sit at a unique vantage point in the debate over civic space: they are called upon to interpret and apply PVO laws in ways that either entrench democratic backsliding or safeguard the constitutional and human rights guarantees that underpin an open society. This webinar offers a timely platform for legal practitioners, civil society actors, and policymakers to engage directly with the standards that should guide that role — and to build a shared understanding of how Africa’s judiciaries can act as a bulwark for civic space across the continent.
Register
The webinar is free and open to the public. Register here: https://bit.ly/JudiciaryandCivicSpac
For more information, contact info@africajurists.org or visit www.africajurists.org.