History

Africa Legal Aid (AFLA) was launched in Maastricht, the Netherlands on 21 October, 1995 to coincide with Africa Day of Human Rights. The choice of venue for the launch of an African organization was largely coincidental, “an accident of history”.

Africa Legal Aid was first established in Maastricht because Executive Director Evelyn A. Ankumah happened to be in Maastricht when it was conceived. AFLA began its operations from Maastricht thanks to various forms of support from the internationally recognized Law Faculty and Centre for Human Rights of Maastricht University.

During the launch of AFLA: Dr. Ibrahim Ali Badawi El Sheik, Former President of the African Commision, Prof. Shadrack Gutto, Member of the Governing Council of AFLA, and Dr. Michelle van Hulten, Minister Pronk’s Special Envoy for Africa

AFLA’s First Conference: The Legal Profession and the Protection of Human Rights in Africa, 1997