About the CEAC
Coalition for an Effective African Court on Human and Peoples Rights
The Coalition for an African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (CEAC), a network of individuals, non-governmental organizations and independent national human rights institutions, was formed during the first conference for the promotion of the protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Charter) establishing the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Court) in Niamey, Niger in May 2003.
The Coalition for an Effective African Court was formally registered in September 2007 as an NGO under the laws of the Republic of Tanzania. It now has its main office in Arusha, Tanzania, where the African Court on Human and Peoples' Right is also based.
Key purpose
The key purpose for its establishment was to have an effective and independent African Court in order to provide redress to victims of human rights violations and strengthen the human rights protection system in Africa and at domestic level.
The objectives of the Coalition are to have full ratification of the protocol establishing the African Court by all 53 member states of the African Union (AU); to enhance transparency in the nomination and election of judges; provide a platform for sustainable civil society participation in the creation of the African Court; and provide technical support to the AU and the African Court.
Since its inception, the Coalition has had notable successes in efforts to ensure that the creation for an effective and credible African Court. Membership is gradually on the incline daily.
The role of the Coalition
The Coalition has played a significant role at the AU in the elaboration of guidelines on the nomination and election of judges to the African Court. In addition, the work of the Coalition played an important role in the coming into force of the protocol creating the African Court in January 2004. It has provided technical assistance in assisting the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in its future relationship with the African Court. The Coalition has also made important and influential written interventions at the AU Summits on decisions affecting the functioning of the African Court.
Although a relatively young initiative, the Coalition has made important inroads in the creation of the African Court. The challenge for the Coalition is to consolidate its work and strengthen its institutional capacity, and ensure that the African Court does indeed become credible, in particular the imminent functioning of the African Court.
Advocacy and lobbying
Through its advocacy and lobbying, the Coalition has been able to influence decision-makers on key aspects affecting the creation of the African Court. In particular, that the processes towards the functioning of the African Court should continue pending the outcome of the decision to merge the human rights and justice courts. Furthermore, the Coalition has maintained that the process towards the integration of the two courts should not compromise the human rights mandate of the African Court.
Furthermore, the Coalition has ensured that the African Court remains on the agenda of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights at its six-monthly sessions. The Coalition has made interventions at the African Commission and also participated in the civil society forum preceding the sessions of the African Commission on the African Court.
Submissions/Positions papers
- Legal and institutional issues arising out of the decision of the Assembly of heads of state and government to integrate the African Court and the Court of Justice of the AU, in English and French (October 2004);
- A draft model protocol on the establishment of the African Court of Justice and Human and Peoples’ Rights in English and French (May 2005);
- A Memo on the integration of the human right and justice court of the AU, in English, Kiswahili and Portuguese (July 2005);
- Submission paper on the election of credible judges to the African Court (Jan 2006).
- Submission on the Single Legal Instrument relating to the merger of the African Court on Human & people’s Rights and the Court of Justice of the African Union (March 2006).
At various National level, the Coalition, through its focal points, has met with government officials in a number of countries including Cape Verde, Congo-Brazzaville, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda, on the establishment of the human rights court and the work of the Coalition. The Coalition has also engaged with government officials through letter writing.
Publications & website
The newsletter, Do it Right, which was first published in May 2004, is a quarterly publication. It is printed in English, French and now Arabic. It contains commentary pieces on the developments on the creation of the African Human Rights Court, information on upcoming events and activities of the Coalition.
This website became operational on 15th May 2004. The website, which is in English, French Portuguese and Arabic, contains current information on the activities of the Coalition, background information on the establishment of the African Court, information on events relevant to the African human rights system at continental and country-level. Furthermore, with the introduction of the Coalition website and the askus@africacourtcoalition.org email address, the website has been receiving daily requests from people or organisations wishing to join the Coalition and or requesting for additional information relating to the African Court, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the Coalition.