Tema-Ghana, Nov. 1, CDA Consult – The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights; the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights; and the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child must work through statutory complementarity.
“We believe statutory complementarity among the three AU Organs can further enhance the protection of human rights on the continent,” Lady Justice Imani Daud Aboud, President of, the African Court has stated.
“We reaffirmed our desire to see the amendment of Article 5 of the Protocol for the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, one of the three AU organs with exclusive human rights mandate, to be included as one of the entities that can access the African Court directly,” Lady Justice Aboud stated.
The African Court President stated in a speech delivered on the occasion of the Opening Ceremony of the 73rd Ordinary Session and the 35th Anniversary of the African Commission on Human and People at Banjul, the Gambia which is made available to the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) in Tema.
The Ordinary Session sets the pace for deliberations on issues of human rights and engagement with various stakeholders on the human rights situation in Africa, its relationship and cooperation with National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and Specialized Institutions, as well as with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), granted Observer Status.
The 20-day Session started on October 21st and is scheduled to run all through to November 9th.
The African Court President, therefore, called on the AU to finalize the process of amending Article five of the Protocol, which focuses on AU Organs.
“We further call on Member States of the African Union, other AU organs, Civil Society Organisations, and all other human rights stakeholders on the continent, to work with us to strengthen complementarity and entrench the culture of human rights in Africa,” she said.
Lady Justice Aboud stressed that no one can and should dispute the place of the African Commission in the human rights history of the continent, from promotional missions, fact-finding missions, consideration of State Reports, special mechanisms, and more importantly, its very rich human rights jurisprudence.
She said the African Commission, over the past three and a half decades, has cemented its place by reshaping the human rights landscape on the continent.
“Like many other institutions on the continent, the Commission faces enormous challenges, but the determination, passion, and love for the continent is the engine that drives the Commissioners and staff to soldier on,” she said.
“On this solemn but celebratory occasion, we salute the current Commissioners and staff and recognise those who were there before them, for the sacrifices and efforts you’ve put in to improve the enjoyment of human rights in Africa,” the African Court President stated.
Lady Justice Aboud also lauded the African Union and all Africans, for the commemoration of the 2022 African Human Rights Day, which “gives us the opportunity to take stock, reflect on and recommit to the solemn declaration by the peoples and leaders of Africa on the promotion and protection of human and people’s rights on the Continent.
“On behalf of the African human rights family and on my personal behalf as President of the African Court, I wish today, even as we grapple with many human rights challenges, thank the African Commission for the institutionalization of this day”.
The Session allows the participation of various stakeholders across the continent who deliver statements and reports to the Commission as a mechanism to engage citizens’ in co-creating solutions and enhancing the implementation of commitments on human rights.
The stakeholders include African Union member states; non-governmental organizations; National Human Rights Institutions; civil society organizations; development partners, among others.
