Maat for Peace, Development, and Human Rights organized a discussion session titled "Transnational Organized Crime: A Human Rights Perspective," featuring a selection of African experts and human rights advocates. This event took place on the sidelines of the 83rd session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights in Banjul, Gambia.

The session was moderated by Abd al-Rahman Basha, Executive Director of Maat, who posed key questions regarding the role of the African Commission in addressing the crisis of transnational organized crime and its impact on women and their work within Sudan.

D. Viyi Ogunadi, a representative from the Regional Observatory on Organized Crime, stated that the African Commission is the most important organization in dealing with transnational organized crime and can organize visits to African countries to monitor their handling of crises. He noted that the Commission has recognized Niger as a major hub for human traffickers, yet it has not taken decisive action to compel these countries to adhere to the African Charter for combating such crimes due to the crises and challenges they face, including funding issues that hinder necessary actions within the continent.

Mr. Mesud Gebeyehu, Executive Director of the Consortium of Ethiopian Human Rights Organizations, emphasized the need to activate the mechanisms of the African Charter and transform them into national legislation. He also called for building the capacities of civil society to document these crimes and address them through a comprehensive collective approach, enabling the documentation of violations and crime hotspots in countries like Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Yemen, and Sudan, where human trafficking and irregular migration crimes are rampant.

Meanwhile, Regional Research and Advocacy Officer, and Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) Network, highlighted the gendered context of the conflict in Sudan and the actions of Al-Shabaab against women in Somalia. She argued that these organized acts must be discussed as a central issue of significant concern to the African Commission.

Naji Moulay Lahsen, Executive Director of the Network of the Independent Commission for Human Rights in North Africa, confirmed that crime is escalating significantly in the Sahel and North African regions. He urged governments to collaborate in developing resolution projects to combat and control organized crime, whether through thematic or national resolutions. He also called for intensified coordination between governments, civil society, and stakeholders to improve information exchange to combat this serious phenomenon.

The session concluded with a set of recommendations, notably that governments should assume their responsibilities according to the African Charter, support civil society organizations in documenting cross-border violations, and integrate women's issues into the core discussions on organized crime.