Coalition for an Effective African Court

The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights in collaboration with the Government of Cameroon, organised a Consultative and Sensitization Seminar on the promotion of the Court for Women Human Rights NGOs in Africa, from 24 to 26 April 2013, at Hotel Mont Fébé, in Yaoundé, Cameroon, with the theme “The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights: Your New Partner in Strengthening the Protection of Human Rights in Africa”.

The aim of the Seminar was to enhance the protection of human rights in Africa, through raising awareness about the Court, sensitize women NGOs and potential users of the Court on how to seize the Court and the procedure to follow, and encourage states like Cameroon which have not yet ratified the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Protocol), to do so, and further make the Article 34(6) declaration, allowing individuals and NGOs direct access to the Court, after exhausting local remedies.

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The African Court Coalition organized a one hour discussion as a side event during the 53rd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission) with the theme; ‘Reflecting on the Current Developments at the African Court for Better Access to Justice in the Continent’. The event was held at the Kairaba Beach Hotel on the 11 April 2013, in Banjul, The Gambia with about 70 participants attending.

During an interactive one hour discussion, human rights experts and judge from the Court reflected on a number of issues relating to the Court which included among others; handling of cases transferred by the Commission and the outcome of a request for an Advisory Opinion before the Court for a case similar to the one pending before the Commission.

The discussion was chaired by Mr Dzimbabwe Chimbga of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights while Judge Sylvain Oré (Judge at African Court) and Professor Frans Viljoen (University of Pretoria, South Africa) were panellists.

From left to right; Professor Frans Viljoen (University of Pretoria), Mr Dieu-Donné Wedi Djamba (Coalition Executive Secretary),
Mr Dzimbabwe Chimbga (Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights) and Judge Sylvain Oré (African Court Judge)

Participants of the Banjul side event

The 53rd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights will be held from 9 to 23 April in Banjul, the Gambia. Please visit the ACHPR link below for the draft agenda of the session.

http://www.achpr.org/sessions/53rd/info/agenda/

NGO Forum

The African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS) will organize the Forum on the Participation of NGOs (also known as the NGOs Forum) preceding the 53rd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’Rights (ACHPR) and the 27th African Human Rights Bookfair.

The main objectives of the Forum are:

• To foster closer collaboration and co-operation among NGOs, and with the African Commission for promotion and protection human rights in Africa;
• To provide a discussion platform for organizations working on democracy and human rights issues in the continent;
• To promote inter-regional/organizational networking for the implementation of decisions of the Forum as contained in the ACHPR Communiqué amongst others.

For more information please visit the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS) link below;

http://www.acdhrs.org/ngo-forum/

The Coalition has launched a campaign called ‘’Bring Two’’ Campaign. The ‘’Bring Two’’ Campaign is a five-year campaign aiming to increase the membership of the Coalition. Coalition members are encouraged to recruit at least two new members every year to join the Coalition. The Campaign will allow raising awareness on the Court, raising funds for the Coalition and increasing the visibility of the Coalition’s work.

The African Court Coalition held a two-day Training Workshop for 24 legal practitioners (Anglophone and Francophone) on the Rules of Procedure of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ right (the African Court) on the 8th and 9th of March at the Kibo Palace Hotel, Arusha Tanzania.

Facilitators for the Training were scholars and experts in litigation who have excellent experiences with regional courts as well as the African Court and African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. These included the former commissioner Bahame Tom Nyanduga, Prof Vincent O. Nmehielle, Dr. Robert Eno, Dr. Chacha Bhoke, Ms Mercy Deche and Dr. Joseph Yav Katshung.

All participants had an opportunity to attend a public hearing session at the African Court on Friday 8. The guest of Honor for the event was Madam President of the African Court, Justice Sophia Akuffo who was represented by the Registrar of the Court, Dr. Robert Eno.

The training workshop is part of the African Court Coalition’s objectives to build capacity among lawyers and for better understanding of the rules of procedure of the African Court.

The Republic of Rwanda has officially deposited the declaration under Article 34(6) of the Protocol establishing the Court which allows direct access of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) with observer status before the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Individuals to the Court.

Rwanda is the 6th country out of 26 which have ratified the Protocol establishing the Court to deposit such Declaration. Other countries which have deposited the Declaration include Tanzania, Mali, Ghana, Burkina Faso and Malawi. The declaration from the Republic of Rwanda was signed on 22 January 2013.

Article 34(6) of the Protocol requires each country which has made ratification of the Protocol to deposit a declaration accepting the competence of the Court to receive cases under article 5(3) of the same Protocol. The Court cannot entertain any application under article 5(3) involving a State Party which has not made such declaration.

The newly elected Judge, Hon. Justice Aba Kimelabalou from Togo has been sworn in today at the swearing ceremony which commenced at 9:30AM at the Court’s premises (Kibo Hall), located in the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Conservation Centre (Close to TANAPA Office), Dodoma Road.

Justice Aba Kimelabalou was elected at the 22nd Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union and appointed by the 20th Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union on 28 January 2013.

The 28th Ordinary Session of the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights have commenced today, 4 March 2013 up to 15 March 2013 at its seat, Arusha, Tanzania.

During the Session, the court will hold a public hearing in respect of Application No. 013/2011 - The Beneficiaries of the late Norbert Zongo, Abdoulaye Nikiema alias Ablassé, Ernest Zongo, Blaise Ilboudo, and the Burkinabe Movement for Human and Peoples' Rights (Applicants) vs. the Republic of Burkina Faso (Respondent) on 7 and 8 March 2013.

The public is invited to attend the hearing at 9:30AM, the session will commence at 10:00AM (Arusha time).

For more information, please visit the African Court link provided below.

Public hearing in the matter of the beneficiaries of the late Norbert Zongo and others against the Republic of Burkina-Faso.

  
PRACTICE MANUAL on the Procedure of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights

Donations received will support the activities of the Coalition, in particular assisting young African interns to gain experience in the procedures of the African Court. The Coalition is committed to encouraging young lawyers and persons interested in the African human rights legal system. Contact the Secretariat for further information.

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