Advancing Environmental and Human Rights in Africa: Insights from the GDC Africa Forum 2025

Introduction

The Global Democracy Coalition Africa Forum 2025, held on March 28 at Daystar University, Nairobi, brought together a diverse array of voices from across the continent to reflect on democracy, human rights, and environmental justice. The forum opened with remarks by Mary Yvonne Ododah, Board Member at The Youth Café and Executive Director of Nuru Trust Network, who welcomed participants and emphasized the value of youth engagement in strengthening democratic spaces and inclusive governance.

The event included panel discussions, keynote presentations, and interactive sessions, offering participants a platform to address systemic challenges while proposing people-centered solutions rooted in accountability, dignity, and environmental sustainability.

A Powerful Panel on Democracy and Environmental Justice

A highlight of the forum was the panel discussion titled:
“Addressing Key Challenges to Democracy, Human Rights, and Environmental Justice,”
moderated by Daniel Iberi, Communications Officer at Afrobarometer.

The session featured leading experts:

• Dr. Patrick Maluki – University of Nairobi

• Zaina Kombo – Amnesty International Kenya

• Santo Astorino – Mundus Group

• Prof. Francis Onditi – Riara University

• Commissioner Dr. Dennis Wamalwa – Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR)

Commissioner Dr. Dennis Wamalwa: A Human Rights Perspective on the Environment

In his well-received address, Commissioner Dr. Dennis Wamalwa spoke on the critical link between human rights and environmental protection. He emphasized that the right to a clean and healthy environment is enshrined in the Constitution of Kenya, and protecting this right is essential to the wellbeing of all citizens, especially marginalized communities.

“Environmental justice is not only about protecting nature,” he said,
“It is about ensuring that every person has access to natural resources and is included in decisions that affect their lives.”

Key Challenges Raised

Commissioner Wamalwa identified five major areas of concern:

• Attacks on Environmental Defenders: Individuals standing up for nature and community rights often face threats, arrests, or violence.

• Limited Access to Information: Communities are frequently left out due to the lack of clear, accessible data about environmental projects.

• Exclusion from Public Participation: While participation is a constitutional right, many affected groups are excluded from decisions on land, water, and development.

• Inequitable Benefit-Sharing: Communities are rarely consulted or compensated when natural resources are extracted from their regions.

• Lack of Justice: Many cases of environmental harm remain unresolved, with victims receiving little to no redress.

KNCHR’s Role in Addressing Environmental Injustices

Dr. Wamalwa explained how the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights is working to confront these problems through its mandate and partnerships:

• Targeted Complaints and Investigations: The Commission actively responds to cases of environmental injustice, especially in underserved regions.

• Public Inquiries: KNCHR recently completed an investigation into the effects of corporate activities on indigenous rights.

• Policy Advocacy: The Commission successfully influenced the development of the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (Sessional Paper No. 3 of 2021).

• International Monitoring: KNCHR submits shadow reports to treaty bodies, ensuring that environmental issues are not ignored at the global level.

He also reiterated the three key principles guiding environmental justice:

• The State’s duty to protect human rights

• The private sector’s responsibility to respect those rights

• The people’s right to access remedies when those rights are violated

“Environmental concerns are not secondary,” Dr. Wamalwa concluded.
“They are central to justice, dignity, and sustainable development.”

Forum Outcomes and Closing Reflections

The GDC Africa Forum 2025 succeeded in highlighting the deep connection between governance, human rights, and environmental well-being. The event created space for sharing solutions that are practical, inclusive, and rooted in community needs.

Participants called for:

• Greater transparency in how environmental and development decisions are made

• Stronger protection for activists and human rights defenders

• Laws that require businesses to be accountable for environmental harm

• Better use of data to support public participation and evidence-based policy

• Inclusion of all groups, including youth and marginalized populations, in national dialogue

Conclusion

The discussions at this year’s forum showed that true democracy cannot exist without environmental and human rights protection. The presence of experienced leaders like Commissioner Dr. Dennis Wamalwa alongside youth advocates like Mary Yvonne Ododah symbolized the forum’s strength: a blend of institutional experience and grassroots energy.

The call was clear—if Africa is to move forward, it must do so with justice at the center, and the voices of its people—especially those most often ignored—at the front.