African human rights body passes resolution to develop norms on public services and recognises again the Abidjan Principles

In response to an increased recognition that the private actors involved in the provision of social services have ‘contributed to the low level of enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights’, which have been inadequately regulated by States, the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) passed a resolution to develop norms on States’ obligations to regulate private actors involved in the provision of social services (ACHPR/Res.434(EXT.OS/XXVI1)2020).

The resolution refers to the Abidjan Principles on the human rights obligations of States to provide public education and to regulate private involvement in education, building on earlier resolutions from the Commission (ACHPR / Res. 420 (LXIV) 2019) and the Human Rights Council (A/HRC/32/L.33.

The ACHPR’s resolution tasks the Working Group on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights with the development of the norms, and for States Parties, civil society and other stakeholders to collaborate in the process.