Moussa Sarr calls for corporate accountability at Africa BHR Forum

At the opening of the 5th Africa Business and Human Rights Forum in Dakar, Senegal, Justice Minister Moussa Sarr called for stronger corporate responsibility regarding environmental protection and human rights. The forum’s theme focuses on realizing the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment through responsible business conduct.

Minister Sarr noted that while the right to a healthy environment is recognized in the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and by the United Nations, the challenge lies in making these rights effective. He emphasized that more than 45 African countries, including Senegal, have integrated this right into their legal frameworks.

To improve access to justice for communities affected by economic activities, Sarr announced plans to enhance training for magistrates and judicial officers, as well as to encourage non-judicial complaint mechanisms in collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission. The forum also highlighted that Africa loses approximately $195 billion annually due to environmental degradation, illicit financial flows, and unsustainable resource exploitation.