The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Arusha, Tanzania 5th December, 2014:
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) Her Excellency Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma yesterday met the President of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR) Honourable Justice Augustino Ramadhani at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The two exchanged views on the progress of the Arusha-based African Court and the way forward.
Earlier on Wednesday, the AfCHPR President held warm and cordial talks with the Head of the European Union Delegation to the AU, His Excellency Amb. Gary Quince.
The EU chief assured the President of their readiness to work closely with the African Court in implementing some of its tasks. The meeting took place on the side-lines of the on-going 35th Ordinary Session of the Court.
“The EU is keen to work and support AfCHPR,’’ Amb. Quince told President Ramadhani.
The President thanked the EU for its support so far and was looking forward to deepening the co-operation in the coming years.
PixThe AfCHPR President also briefed the EU envoy on the stepped up efforts to raise awareness of the Court’s existence and some of the new avenues being considered to ensure that more AU Member States ratify the Protocol establishing the Court.
So far 28 countries out of 54 AU Member States have ratified the Protocol and seven of them have made the Declaration allowing individuals and NGOs to access the Court.
‘’We are in the process of attracting more African countries to ratify the Protocol,’’ stressed the AfCHPR President.
NOTES FOR EDITORS:
2. As at October 2014, the Court had received 33 applications on contentious matters and 8 requests for advisory opinion. The Court has disposed of 24 contentious matters and has 9 pending; it has disposed of 4 requests for advisory opinion while 4 are still pending.
3. The Court is composed of 11 Judges, nationals of Member States of the African Union elected in their individual capacity. The Court meets 4 times a year in Ordinary Sessions.
Captions:
1. The Chairperson of the African Union H.E Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma greets President of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights Justice Augustino Ramadhani at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 4 December, 2014.
2.The President of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights Justice Augustino Ramadhani and the Head of European Union Delegation to the African Union Amb. Gary Quince pose for a group photograph with some staff members in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 3 December, 2014.
Further information on the Court can be obtained from the Court’s website at www.african-court.org
