The ACDHRS seeks to promote the awareness and adherence of human rights and democratic principles throughout the African continent. They also:
- Promotes human rights and democracy issues in the African continent through training, advocacy, networking, action-oriented research, publications and documentation.
- Builds bridges between Inter-Governmental Organisations (IGOs) and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), as well as between and among NGOs. It maintains networks of communications, human rights education and research among others.
- Ensures that gender is mainstreamed into all its programme areas and pays great respect to gender parity in relation to the composition of its staff.