General explanation The African Commission came into existence on 21 October 1986 and is the oldest human rights complaint-handling body in Africa. The Commission is a quasi-judicial body responsible for the application of the provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) as well as the protection and promotion of human and […]
Archive | Main Mechanism
In trying to give a holistic dimension to the promotion and protection of human rights on the African continent, regional judicial bodies (mechanisms) were put in place. There purpose is to provide an alternative avenue for victim of human rights violations, who were not availed with effective and/or accessible domestic remedies. These regional judicial bodies that exist give due recognition to the domestic judicial bodies. Regardless, they have the utmost capacity to preside over issues relating to human rights violation on the continent.
Please find below a list of the main mechanisms within the African Continent.
African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC)
Posted in Main Mechanism
General explanation The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) is the first and only child rights treaty body in the world with the competence to receive complaints against States. It was established by Article 32 of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC). […]
African Court on Human and Peoples Rights (AfCHPR)
Posted in Main Mechanism
General explanation The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Court) is a continental court established by African countries to ensure the protection of human and peoples’ rights in Africa. It complements and reinforces the functions of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The African Court came into existence by virtue of […]
ECOWAS Community Court of Justice
Posted in Main Mechanism
General Explanation The Community Court of Justice was created pursuant to the provisions of Articles 6 and 15 of the Revised Treaty of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Originally conceived as the “Tribunal of the Community” in the 1975 ECOWAS treaty, the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice (ECCJ) came into existence through […]
SADC Tribunal
Posted in Main Mechanism
General explanation The SADC Tribunal was established in 1992 by Article 9 of the SADC Treaty as one of the institutions of SADC, although, members of the Tribunal were only appointed during the SADC’s Heads of State or Government Summit in 2005. Under international law the Tribunal is considered an international court just like the […]
EA Court of Justice
Posted in Main Mechanism
General Explanation The East African Court of Justice (EACJ) is one of the organs of the East African Community established under Article 9 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community. It is a supranational Court of Justice whose major responsibility is to ensure adherence to law in the interpretation and application […]
