Africa: Counting gains, filling gaps: strengthening African Union’s response to human rights violations committed in conflict situations

The scale of atrocities in recent and ongoing conflicts in Africa has prompted the African Union Peace and Security Council to recognize the intimate link between peace and security and human rights. It has begun to take measures to address human rights violations that lead to and/or committed in conflict situations. This report examines the extent to which the respect, promotion, and protection of human rights is integrated into the peace and security processes of the African Union. The report identifies six broad gaps in these processes: these challenges are neither insurmountable nor unique to the African Union.