Hon Dr Solomon Ayele Dersso (PhD) – Commissioner, ACHPR
Hon Dr Solomon A Dersso (PhD), an Ethiopian legal scholar and human rights expert is the founder and current CEO of Addis Ababa-based Amani Africa, a pan-African policy research think tank (https://amaniafrica-et.org/).
Hon Solomon Dersso currently serves as a Commissioner with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), country rapporteur for Kenya and the chairperson of the Working Group on Extractive Industries, Environment and Human Rights Violations of the ACHPR. While serving as the Chairperson of the Commission, between 2019 to 2021, he was focal and supportive to the protection of human rights defenders and addressing the human rights situation in Kenya. As country rapporteur, Hon Dersso has remained instrumental in receiving and reviewing reports from local civil society organisations, and has made pertinent statements touching on human rights situation in Kenya during the ordinary sessions of the African Commission.
On 18th June 2024, Hon Dersso, through the ACHPR made a statement on the human rights situation in the country following the protests witnessed against the then proposed Finance Bill, 2024. He highlighted the urgent need engage in inclusive and constructive dialogues, exploring alternative measures for financial resourcing, respect the right to peaceful protest, release of the protesters and ensuring the respect of data privacy and protection for all citizens.
Hon Dersso has always lent a listening year to Kenyan civil society organisations, where he has had the opportunity of receiving first-hand information on the situation of human rights in the country, and taking all necessary action where he can.
Hon Dersso, remains a formidable human rights defender who has utilised national, regional and international spaces to ensure the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms with communities and fostering solution-oriented changes in addressing human rights situations at diverse levels. He remains a true testament that courage, deliberate intention and collaborative efforts can birth change and better tomorrow where people and persons’ can relish in rights and freedoms guaranteed and, national, regional and international laws.