Coalition for an Effective African Court

The African Court Coalition will undertake an advocacy mission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, prior and during the 21st AU Summit, from 13 to 23 May 2013.

During the mission, the African Court Coalition will meet with State Representatives with the aim to advocate for the ratification of 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) and/or the Declaration under Article 34(6) of the some Protocol allowing direct access to Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Court) by individuals and NGOs with observer status before the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

Full text of the Speech made by the new Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, at the handover ceremony on 15 October 2012 when she was taking over from Dr. Jean Ping.

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The 19th Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) is scheduled to take place from 9 to 16 July 2012 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Holding under the theme: “Boosting Intra-African Trade”, the 19th Ordinary Session of the Summit of the African Union will officially kick off on Monday 9 July 2012, with the 24th Ordinary Session of the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC). The PRC will discuss items on the agenda in preparation of the upcoming AU Summit, to be submitted to the Executive Council for adoption.

According to the PRC agenda for the 19th AU Summit, the Ambassadors will, for two days (9 and 10 July 2012) exchange views on specific reports including the reports of the Advisory Sub-committee on administrative, budgetary and financial matters; sub-committee on programmes and conferences; sub-committee on structures; multilateral cooperation; economic and trade matters; the report on the NEPAD as well as that of the refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons in Africa. They will consider the working documents and draft decisions in preparation for the 21st Ordinary Session of the Executive Council.

On the other hand, the 21st Ordinary Session of the Executive Council will be held from 12 to 13 July 2012 at the headquarters of the AU in Addis Ababa. The Ministers of External Affairs and other ministers or authorities designated by the governments of AU Member States will deliberate on the different reports of the ministerial meetings organised by the AU Commission during the last six months. They will consider the activity report of the Commission; the recommendations of the PRC on the implementation of previous Decisions of the Executive Council and the Assembly; and the report of the ministerial committee on candidatures.

The Executive Council will further look into reports of some AU Organs including the Pan-African Parliament (PAP); the African Committee of the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC); the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the Union (ECOSOCC); the African Union Advisory Board on Corruption; and the African Union Commission on International Law (AUCIL) before embarking on the consideration of items proposed by Member States. One of the high moments during the Executive Council meeting will be the election of Commissioners of the African Union and the election of three judges of the African Court of Human and People’s Rights (AfCHPR) as well as the appointment of one judge of the AU Ad-Hoc Administrative Tribunal.

The 19th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union is scheduled to take place on 15 and 16 July 2012.