HRW Urges African Court to Protect "Climate-Displaced" Communities; 6 Million People Uprooted by Disasters

Human Rights Watch (HRW) called on the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights on Monday, March 30, 2026, to clarify state obligations toward people forced to flee due to climate change. The request for an advisory opinion seeks to ensure that climate adaptation policies are rooted in human rights and legal accountability.

The Senegal Crisis as a Case Study:

HRW's submission highlights its August 2025 report on Senegalese fishing families in Saint-Louis, who have lived in the uninhabitable "Khar Yalla" site for nearly a decade after being displaced by coastal erosion. With over 6.3 million people internally displaced by disasters in Africa as of 2023, HRW insists that regional courts must define protection standards for communities facing prolonged waits for resettlement.