African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights
Quasi-judicial body
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ACHPR was based on the African Charter which is the regional human rights protectors of human rights for Africa. The charter has twenty-nine articles that go into great detail on the rights and freedoms that follow a strict code of non-discrimination. The support and excitement over the Europeans current rights system, the evolution of granting everyone human rights, is what helped streamline the creation of this commission and other courts in Africa. The Commission came into existence with the coming into force, on 21 October 1986, of the African Charter (adopted by the Organization of African Unity (OAU) on 27 June 1981). Although its authority rests on the African Charter, the Commission reports to the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (formerly the OAU). Its first members were elected by the OAU's 23rd Assembly of Heads of State and Government in June 1987 and the Commission was formally installed for the first time on 2 November of that year. For the first two years of its existence, the Commission was based at the OAU Secretariat in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, but in November 1989, it relocated to Banjul, Gambia. The ACHPR is not the African Union Commission, which was formerly known as the OAU Secretariat.
In 2019, the ACHPR and UN Human Rights Office signed a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate on the ACHPR's mandate in the African Charter.
The Commission meets twice a year, usually in March or April and in October or November. One of these meetings is usually held in Banjul, where the Commission's secretariat is located; the others may take place in any African state.
Composition
The commission opened its doors in 1987 with promises of the protection and evolution of Africa's human rights. The Assembly of Heads of State and Government, make their decisions by a vote of two-thirds the majority of all representatives from each country. The ACHPR is made up of eleven members, elected by secret ballot at the OAU Assembly of Heads of State and Government (subsequently, by the African Union's Assembly). These members, who serve six-year renewable terms, are "chosen from amongst African personalities of the highest reputation, known for their high morality, integrity, impartiality and competence in matters of human and peoples' rights" (Charter, Article 31) and, in selecting these personalities, particular consideration is given "to persons having legal experience".
The members are to enjoy full independence in discharging their duties and serve on a personal basis (i.e., not representing their home states); however, no member state may have more than one of its nationals on the Commission at any given time. The members choose, from among their own number, a chairperson and a Vice Chairperson, who each serve two-year renewable terms.
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Mandate
The Commission has three broad areas of responsibility:
- Promoting human and peoples' rights
- Protecting human and peoples' rights
- Interpreting the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights
The goals above may have been halted as the Commission was placed under heavy burdens, mainly financial issues in the late 80's, as they tried to complete activities for the countries. The countries of Africa, excluding Ethiopia and Liberia, are heavily influenced by colonialism, overall have a weak government, and a declining economy. In pursuit of these goals, the Commission is mandated to "collect documents, undertake studies and researches on African problems in the field of human and peoples, rights, organise seminars, symposia and conferences, disseminate information, encourage national and local institutions concerned with human and peoples' rights and, should the case arise, give its views or make recommendations to governments" (Charter, Art. 45).
With the creation of the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights (under a protocol to the Charter which was adopted in 1998 and entered into force in January 2004), the Commission will have the additional task of preparing cases for submission to the Court's jurisdiction. In a July 2004 decision, the African Union's Assembly resolved that the future Court on Human and Peoples' Rights would be integrated with the African Court of Justice.
Activities
In 2011, the commission brought before the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights a case against Libya.
In 2021, the commission established the Commission of Inquiry into the situation in the Tigray Region to investigate human rights violation in the Tigray War under ACHPR resolution 482 of 12 May 2021.
Special mechanisms
The commission has several special mechanisms in the form of special rapporteurs, working groups and committees that investigate and report on specific human rights issues, such as freedom of expression, women's rights, indigenous populations and torture. Each mechanism prepares and presents a report on its activities to the Commission at every ordinary session.
Network
The ACHPR relies on a network of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that are required to submit reports to the commission every two years. The commission has granted 514 NGOs with observer status.