AFRICAN COURT ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS BEGINS 35TH ORDINARY SESSION IN ADDIS ABABA 24 NOVEMBER

Two public hearings to be heard during the session

African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights: Arusha, 18th November, 2014: The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR) will hold its 35th Ordinary Session from 24 November to 5 December 2014 in Addis Ababa, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
During the session, there will be two public hearings:
(i) Application 006/2012- African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights v Kenya on 27-28 November, 2014
(ii) Application 005/2013- Alex Thomas v Tanzania on 3-4 December, 2014
In the first application, the African Commission is concerned that the decisions of the Government of Kenya will have far reaching implications on the political, social and economic survival of the minority Ogiek community if they are evicted from the Mau Forest.
In the second application, Mr Thomas, a Tanzanian, is challenging the conviction of 30 years for robbery on 3rd June 1998 by the High Court and later the conviction was upheld by the Court of Appeal on 29th May, 2009. His notice of motion of review on 5th June 2009 addressed to District Registrar of High Court of Tanzania at Arusha has not been granted since and considers it as deprivation of his basic right to be heard.
The public hearings shall be held at the Nelson Mandela Conference Hall at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa.
The hearings begin at 10:00 am prompt. The public is invited to attend the hearings. For security reasons, members of the public wishing to attend the hearings should send their names to the following addresses no later than 25 November, 2014.
1. Mrs. Eliane Adote Berthe, Senior Legal Officer,
Email: Eliane.Egue@african-court.org; or Eliane.Egue@african-court.org; or egueeliane@yahoo.fr

2. Mrs. Ingrid Kanyamuneza, Senior Legal Officer,
Email: Ingrid.Kanyamuneza@african-court.org or kanyamunezaingrid@yahoo.fr

And a copy to the Registrar, Dr Robert Eno: Robert.Eno@african-court.org
NOTES FOR EDITORS:
1. As at October 2014, the Court had received 32 applications on contentious matters and eight requests for advisory opinion. The Court has disposed of 23 contentious matters and has nine pending while it has disposed of four requests for advisory and four are pending.
2. The Court is composed of eleven judges, nationals of member states of the African Union elected in their individual capacity. The Court meets four times in year in Ordinary Sessions.
Further information on the sensitization visit can be obtained from the Court’s website at www.african-court.org.