Arusha, 9 October 2023: The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights will undertake a three-day outreach mission to the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe from 10 to 12 October 2023.
The mission delegation, made up of Registry officials, will be led by the Honourable Judge Imani Daud ABOUD, President of the Court, and the Honourable Judge Modibo SACKO, vice-president
The purpose of the outreach visit is to initiate discussions with the Government of Sao Tome and Principe that could lead to the ratification of the Protocol establishing the African Court and the deposit of the Declaration provided for in Article 34(6) of the Protocol, which will allow individuals and non-governmental organisations with observer status at the Banjul Commission direct access to the Court.
The success of the Court’s mandate as a human rights protection body requires that all Member States of the African Union ratify the Protocol and accept the Court’s jurisdiction as provided for in Article 34(6) of the Protocol.
Ratification of the Protocol and acceptance of the Court’s jurisdiction will give the Court the legitimacy it needs to fulfil its mandate
The Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe has ratified the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, but has not yet ratified the Protocol.
To date, thirty-four Member States of the African Union have ratified the Protocol and eight of them have deposited the Declaration. The eight countries are Burkina Faso, the Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Malawi, Mali, Niger and Tunisia.
NOTES FOR EDITORS
- 1. The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights was established under Article 1 of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which was adopted on 9 June 1998 and entered into force on 25 January 2004. Its mission is to ensure the judicial protection of human rights in Africa and “complements the protective functions conferred on the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights by the Charter”.
- The main aim of the Court’s outreach visits is to strengthen the protection of human rights in Africa. The specific objectives of the missions are to raise awareness of the Court, to initiate discussions with Member States with a view to ratification of the Protocol and submission of the Declaration giving individuals and NGOs direct access to the Court, and to inform potential applicants of the procedure applicable before the Court.
- The Court is made up of 11 judges who are nationals of African Union Member States that have ratified the Protocol. They are elected in a personal capacity from among jurists of high moral standing and recognised legal, judicial or academic competence and experience in the field of human and peoples’ rights.
- The Court meets four times a year in Ordinary Sessions and may hold an Extra-Ordinary Sessions.
For further information, please visit the Court’s website atwww.african-court.org
For further information, please contact : Dr Robert Eno, Registrar at the following address Robert.Eno@african-court.org For media coverage, please contact us at the following address AfricanCourtMedia@african-court.org
