WNE School of Law Professor Luwam Dirar recently marked the culmination of a three-year journey with the formal acceptance of the African Guiding Principles on the Human Rights of All Migrants, Refugees, and Asylum Seekers by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR). This historic achievement, acknowledged in October of this year in Arusha, Tanzania, underscores Dr. Dirar’s commitment to migrant workers’ rights and her dedication to a human rights approach to migration policies.

As a highly regarded legal scholar with extensive international experience, Dr. Dirar collaborated with the ACHPR and colleagues to draft these guiding principles. Her personal connection to migration and the narratives of human rights abuses she encountered fueled her efforts to enhance legal protection for migrants.

Dr. Dirar emphasized the significance of these principles in safeguarding the rights of those on challenging journeys. Her collaboration with the ACHPR highlights the importance of a human rights-based approach to migration policies, reflecting a commitment to protecting the dignity and well-being of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers in Africa and beyond.