Events
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November 30, 2014African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights Concludes Hearing of Application Concerning Kenya’s Ogiek Community Land...AFRICAN COURT ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS CONCLUDES HEARING OF APPLICATION CONCERNING KENYA’S OGIEK COMMUNITY LAND RIGHTS
The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Arusha, Tanzania 30th November, 2014: The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR) on 28th November, 2014 concluded two days of public hearing on the Application 006/2012 African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Applicant) versus Republic of Kenya (Respondent) in Addis Ababa, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
In his opening statement Commissioner Mr Pacifique Manirakiza claimed that the Respondent State had for many years committed a series of acts and omissions, such as harassment and arbitrary forced evictions of the Ogiek, without consultation or compensation, from the Mau Forest, their ancestral home, where they have lived from time immemorial and which was crucial for their very survival as an indigenous people.
The Commission’s lawyers are Mr Tom Nyanduga, Mr Donald Deya and Mr Selemani Kinyunyu.
The Republic of Kenya has denied the Applicant’s charges and also claimed that the Court lacked jurisdiction in the case. The Respondent also alleged that the Ogiek community had not exhausted the country’s local remedial process.
The Republic of Kenya was represented by a team of three lawyers, led by Senior Deputy Solicitor General, Ms Muthoni Kimani.
Over 20 members of the Ogiek Community, donned in their traditional attire, were among the big audience listening attentively to the proceedings before a bench of nine Judges presided by Justice Augustino Ramadhani, President of the Court.
In attendance also were human rights activists, NGOs, members of diplomatic corps, human rights groups, law students from Addis Ababa University, AU officials and media, among others.
The Court also heard two Ogiek witnesses, an Expert Dr Liz Alden Wily, an Independent Consultant and Political Economist (specializing in land tenure and natural resource governance) and an independent intervention presented by Minority Rights Group’s International Head of Law Ms Lucy Claridge.
The date for the judgment has yet to be decided.
The Court is based in Arusha, the United Republic of Tanzania.
The African Court will hold its second public hearing 3-4 December 2014 at AU Headquarters.
NOTES FOR EDITORS:
1. In March 2013, the African Court issued a provisional measures order requiring the Kenyan Government to stop land transactions in the Mau Forest and refrain from taking any action which would harm the case, until it had reached a decision.
2. As at October 2014, the Court had received 33 applications on contentious matters and 8 requests for advisory opinion. The Court has disposed of 24 contentious matters and has 9 pending, while it has disposed of 4 requests for advisory and 4 are pending.
3. The Court is composed of 11 Judges, nationals of Member States of the African Union elected in their individual capacity. The Court meets 4 times a year in Ordinary Sessions.Further information on the Court can be obtained from the Court’s website at www.african-court.org.
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November 25, 2014African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights to Hear Two Applications beginning 27th November, 2014 at Nelson Mandela...
AFRICAN COURT ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS TO HEAR TWO APPLICATIONS BEGINNING 27th NOVEMBER, 2014 AT NELSON MANDELA HALL , AFRICAN UNION HEADQUARTERS, ADDIS ABABA
African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights: Arusha, Tanzania 25th November, 2014: The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR) will hear two applications separately during its 35th Ordinary Session in Addis Ababa, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
The public hearings are:
(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
The hearings will be held at the Nelson Mandela Hall, African Union Headquarters, Addis Ababa. Both the hearings will be live streamed via http://youtu.be/HzOkbpygOPY (Application 006/2012) and http://youtu.be/UGYq3n8ZBN8 (Application 005/2013).
The hearings begin at 10:00 am prompt. Journalists interested to cover the events are kindly requested to confirm their participation to Mr S.Chhatbar, Senior Information and Communication Officer schatbar@african-court.org and skchhatbar@yahoo.com, no later than 26th November, 2014 noon.
NOTES FOR EDITORS:
1. As at October 2014, the Court had received 33 applications on contentious matters and 8 requests for advisory opinion. The Court has disposed of 24 contentious matters and has 9 pending, while it has disposed of 4 requests for advisory and 4 are pending.
2. The Court is composed of 11 judges, nationals of Member States of the African Union elected in their individual capacity. The Court meets 4 times a year in Ordinary Sessions.
Further information on the Court can be obtained from the Court’s website at www.african-court.org. -
November 21, 201435th Ordinary Session of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights
MEDIA ADVISORY
35th Ordinary Session of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ RightsINVITATION TO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEDIA
What: 35th Ordinary Session of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Who: African Court for Human and Peoples’ Rights.
When: 24th November – 5th December 2014.
Time: 10.00A.M
Where: Nelson Mandela Conference Hall, African Union Headquarters.
Objectives: Two public hearings to be heard during the session.
(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, 2014Background
• The African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights (the Court) is a continental court established by African countries to ensure protection of human and peoples’ rights in Africa. It complements and reinforces the functions of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.
• The mandate of the Court is to complement and reinforce the functions of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Commission – often referred to as the Banjul Commission), which is a quasi-judicial body charged with monitoring the implementation of the Charter.
• The Court has jurisdiction over all cases and disputes submitted to it concerning the interpretation and application of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, the (the Charter), the Protocol and any other relevant human rights instrument ratified by the States concerned. Specifically, the Court has two types of jurisdiction: contentious and advisory.
• The Court is composed of eleven Judges, nationals of Member States of the African Union. The first Judges of the Court were elected in January 2006, in Khartoum, Sudan. They were sworn in before the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union on 2 July 2006, in Banjul, the Gambia. The Judges of the Court are elected, after nomination by their respective States, in their individual capacities from among African jurists of proven integrity and of recognized practical, judicial or academic competence and experience in the field of human rights. The judges are elected for a six year or four year term renewable once. The judges of the Court elect a President and Vice-President of the Court among themselves who serve a two year term. They can be re-elected only once. The President of the Court resides and works on a full time basis at the seat of the Court, while the other ten (10) judges work on a part-time basis. In the accomplishment of his duties, the President is assisted by a Registrar who performs registry, managerial and administrative functions of the Court.
• The Court officially started its operations in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in November 2006, but in August 2007 it moved to its seat in Arusha, the United Republic of Tanzania, where the Government of the Republic has provided it with temporary premises pending the construction of a permanent structure. Between 2006 and 2008, the Court dealt principally with operational and administrative issues, including the development of the structure of the Court's Registry, preparation of its budget and drafting of its Interim Rules of Procedure. In 2008, during the Court's Ninth Ordinary Session, judges of the Court provisionally adopted the Interim Rules of the Court pending consultation with the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, based in Banjul, the Gambia in order to harmonize their rules to achieve the purpose of the provisions of the Protocol establishing the Court, which requires that the two institutions must harmonize their respective Rules so as to achieve the intended complementarity between the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. This harmonization process was completed in April 2010 and in June 2010, the Court adopted its final Rules of Court.
• According to the Protocol (Article 5) and the Rules (Rule 33), the Court may receive complaints and/or applications submitted to it either by the African Commission of Human and Peoples’ Rights or State parties to the Protocol or African Intergovernmental Organizations. Non-Governmental Organizations with observer status before the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and individuals from States which have made a Declaration accepting the jurisdiction of the Court can also institute cases directly before the Court. As of March 2014, only seven countries had made such a Declaration. Those countries are Burkina Faso, Ghana, Malawi, Mali, Rwanda, Tanzania and Republic of Cote d'Ivoire (Click on the name, to see the Country’s Declaration Text).
• The Protocol establishing the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights was adopted on 9 June 1998 in Burkina Faso and came into force on 25 January 2004 after it was ratified by more than 15 countries. The Court has its permanent seat in Arusha, the United Republic of Tanzania.
• 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. 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.
Media representatives are invited to cover the event.
Please Note: 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.fr2. Mrs. Ingrid Kanyamuneza, Senior Legal Officer,
Email: Ingrid.Kanyamuneza@african-court.org or kanyamunezaingrid@yahoo.frFor any inquiry, please contact:
Sukdhev Chhatbar
Senior Information and Communication Officer
African Court on Human and People’s Rights
Email: schatbar@african-court.org
Telephone: +251929186648Ms Yasmine Ali
Communication Officer
Directorate of Information and Communication
African Union Commission
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Email: Yasmineally@ymail.com
AliY@africa-union.orgTel: +251912646241
For further information:
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia
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November 20, 2014Sensitization Seminar on the African Court on Human and People’s Rights
MEDIA ADVISORY
“The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights: Your new partner in the protection of human rights in Africa”INVITATION TO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEDIA
What: Sensitization Seminar on the African Court on Human and People’s Rights.Theme: “The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights: Your new partner in the protection of human rights in Africa”
Who: African Court for Human and Peoples’ Rights in collaboration with Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
When: 20th November 2014
Time: 9.00A.M - 2.00P.M
Where: Plenary Hall, Old Building, African Union Commission.
Objectives: The aim of this seminar is to enhance the protection of human rights in Africa including raising public awareness about the Court, encouraging the ratification of the Protocol and the deposit of the Declaration under Article 34(6) of the Protocol of the Court that allows individuals and NGOs direct access to the Court, encouraging the public to utilize the Court in settling human rights disputes; and encouraging the utilization of the Court to render advisory opinions.
Background:
1. The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Court) was established by virtue of Article 1 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) to complement the protective mandate of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission), with a view to enhancing the protection of human rights on the continent.
2. Since the adoption of the Protocol in June 1998 (more than 16 years ago), twenty eight (28) of the fifty four (54) Member States of the African Union have ratified it, and seven (7) States Parties to the Protocol have made the Declaration under Article 34(6).
3. As at September 2014, the Court had received thirty three (33) applications on contentious matters and eight (8) requests for advisory opinion.
4. The success of the Court as a human rights protection mechanism would require much wider ratification of the Protocol by Member States, as well as their acceptance of the competence of the Court by making the Declaration under Article 34(6). This “universal” ratification will give the Court the legitimacy it needs to effectively discharge its mandate.
Media representatives are invited to cover the event.For any inquiry, please contact:
Ms. Yasmine Ali
Communication Officer
Directorate of Information and Communication
African Union Commission
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Email: Yasmineally@ymail.com
AliY@africa-union.orgTel: +251912646241
Sukdhev Chhatbar
Senior Information and Communication Officer
African Court on Human and People’s Rights
Email: schatbar@african-court.org
Telephone: +251929186648For further information:
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia
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November 18, 2014African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights begins 35th Ordinary Session in Addis Ababa 24 November
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.fr2. Mrs. Ingrid Kanyamuneza, Senior Legal Officer,
Email: Ingrid.Kanyamuneza@african-court.org or kanyamunezaingrid@yahoo.frAnd 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. -
November 11, 2014Justice Robert Dossou, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission on the Hissene Habré...Union Commission on the Hissene Habré case, received by President Idriss Deby Itno of Chad
Ndjamena, 11 November 2014 - H.E Justice Robert Dossou, Special Representative of H.E Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission was received in audience on Tuesday 11 November 2014 by H.E. Idriss Deby Itno, President of the Republic of Chad and Head of State, in the presence of Prof. Vincent O. Nmehielle, the Legal Counsel of the AU and other officials of the AU Commission.
The visit of the AU Delegation to Chad falls within the framework of ongoing consultations on the implementation of the Decisions of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU), on the Hissene Habre Case.
Discussions during this meeting was aimed at enhancing and consolidating the cooperation between the Chadian Government and the Extraordinary African Chambers in a bid to continue with the pending trial of Former President of Chad, Hissene Habre, curently in detention in Dakar.
During the audience, Justice Dossou informed President Idriss Deby that the AUC Chairperson is concerned about the possible delay in the trial of Mr. Hissene Habre and decided to send this special mission to engage in consultations with the different authorities of Chad and Senegal in terms of consolidating the cooperation between the two countries in order to ensure a smooth trial. “ Dr. Dlamini Zuma would like to see that Africa’s judicial system is respected for its capacity to resolve its own problems”, underlined the Special Represententive of the AUC Chairperson. He added that the AU will ensure that the trial is undertaken genuinely; in a fair and transparent manner ,which will help to bolster the confidence of the African citizens in African processes.
President Idriss Deby saluted the initiative of the AUC Chairperson in sending the delegation. He expressed the willingness for his Government to cooperate, which will only go to help in ensuring justice and peace in Chad. The President stressed that the successful completion of this trial will be a great stride not only for the people of Chad but also to the entire African continent, as this will confirm that Africa has the competence and capacity to handle its own problems.
Justice Dossou who is a Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Benin and Former President of the Constitutional Court of Benin and the delegation had earlier on Monday 10 November 2014 met with H.E. Mahamat Issa Halikimi, Honourable Minister of Justice and Human Rights of Chad to exchange views on the way forward to facilitate the work of the court in expediting the trial of Mr. Hissene Habre.
The Minister of Justice reiterated Chad’s Government’s comitment to cooperate with the African Union’s efforts to seriously address the issue of impunity.“ The Chadian Government is mostly concerned with this issue so that justice could be rendered to the people of Chad and also for justice to prevail for all of Africa”, he emphacised.
Both the AUC Chairperson Special Representative and the Legal Counsel of the AU expressed the wish of H.E Dr. Dlamini Zuma for the Habre case to be concluded in a fair and transparent manner.
In the same context, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the AU Commission and his delegation will travel to Dakar from 17 to 22 November 2014 to meet with the Senegalese authorities, the Administrator of the Extraordinary African Chambers (EAC) and Members of the Steering Committee for the funding of the trial. The Extraordinary African Chambers was established in Dakar with the mandate to investigate and prosecute the most responsible (s) of the international crimes committed in Chad from 1982 to 1990. Mr. Hissene Habré, Former President of Chad is accused of crimes against humanity, war crimes and torture during his presidency from 1982 to 1990.Interview requests should be addressed to Ms. Esther Azaa Tankou, Head of Information Division, Directorate of Information and Communication of the African Union, Tel: +251 911361185 E-mail: yamboue@africa-union.org / esthertankou@yahoo.com
For more information, please contact the Office of Legal Counsel of the AU at the following address: Tel: +251 11 518 23 , E-mail: CamaraF@africa-union.org.
For further information contact
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November 10, 2014S.E.M Robert Dossou, Représentant Spécial de la Présidente de la Commission de l'Union africaine sur l'...Ndjamena, le 11 Novembre 2014 - SE M. Robert Dossou, Représentant Spécial de SE Mme Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Présidente de la Commission de l'Union africaine (UA) a été reçu en audience le mardi 11 Novembre 2014 par S.E.M Idriss Deby Itno, Président de la République du Tchad et Chef de l'Etat, en présence du professeur Vincent O. Nmehielle, le Conseiller juridique de l'Union africaine et d'autres fonctionnaires de la Commission de l'UA.
La visite de la délégation de l'UA au Tchad se tient dans le cadre des consultations en cours sur la mise en œuvre des décisions de la Conference des Chefs d'Etat et de Gouvernement de l'Union africaine (UA), sur l’ affaire Hissène Habré.
Les discussions lors de cette rencontre visaient à renforcer et consolider la coopération entre le Gouvernement tchadien et les Chambres Extraordinaires Africaines (CEA) en
Directorate of Information and Communication. African Union Commission E mail: dinfo@africa-union.orgvue de la tenue du procès de l'ancien président du Tchad, Monsieur Hissène Habré, presentement en detention à Dakar.
Lors de cette audience, Maitre Dossou a fait part au Président Idriss Deby Itno de la préoccupation de la Présidente de la Commission de l’UA concernant un éventuel retard dans la procedure engagée pour le jugement de M. Hissène Habré et qui a décidé d'envoyer cette mission de haut niveau en vue d’ engager des consultations avec les différentes autorités du Tchad et du Sénégal pour s’assurer de la coopération effective et le soutien de ces pays afin de faciliter la tenue de ce procès. "Pour le Dr. Dlamini Zuma, la tenue de ce procès renforcera le respect du système judiciaire africain et la capacité de l’afrique à résoudre ses propres problèmes", a souligné le Representant Spécial de Présidente de la Commission de l’UA. Il a également ajouté que l'UA veillera à ce que le procès se tienne de manière équitable et transparente, ce qui contribuera à renforcer la confiance des citoyens africains dans les mécanismes africains.Le Président Idriss Deby Itno a salué l'initiative de la Présidente de la Commission de l’UA d’envoyer cette delegation et a exprimé la volonté et l’engagement de son gouvernement de coopérer, pour que ce procès se tienne dans les meilleurs delais en vue de rendre justice au peuple tchadien et consolider la paix au Tchad. Le Président a également souligné que la tenue de ce procès sera une grande avancée non seulement pour le Tchad, mais aussi pour l'ensemble du continent africain, car cela va confirmer que l'Afrique a la compétence et la capacité de régler ses propres problèmes.
Dans la meme veine, Me Dossou qui est aussi l’ancien ministre des Affaires étrangères de la République du Bénin et ancien président de la Cour Constitutionnelle de ce pays, et sa délégation ont été recu par Monsieur Mahamat Issa Halikimi, Ministre de la Justice et des Droits de l’Homme du Tchad. Leurs entretiens ont porté sur la voie à suivre pour faciliter le travail des Chambres africaines extraordinaires en vue de la tenue dans un délai raisonnable du procès de M. Hissène Habré.
Directorate of Information and Communication. African Union Commission E mail: dinfo@africa-union.orgLe ministre de la Justice a réitéré l'engagement du Gouvernement du Tchad à coopérer avec l'Union Africaine pour la tenue du procès de M. Habré. "Le gouvernement tchadien est préoccupé par cette question et demande que justice soit rendue au peuple Tchadien en partiulier et pour toute l'Afrique en general ", at-il souligné.
Le Représentant Spécial de la Presidente de la Commission de l’UA et le Conseiller juridique de l'Union africaine ont tous les deux exprimé le souhait de SE Dr. Dlamini Zuma de voir tenir le procès de M. Habré de manière équitable et transparente.
A l’issue de cette mission, M. Dossou et sa délégation se rendront à Dakar du 17 au 22 Novembre 2014 pour rencontrer les autorités sénégalaises, l'Administrateur des Chambres africaines extraordinaires (CAE) et les membres du Comité de pilotage pour le financement des CAE.
Les Chambres africaines Extraordinaires ont été créées à Dakar avec pour mandat d'enquêter et de poursuivre le ou les principaux responsables des crimes internationaux commis au Tchad entre 1982 et 1990. M. Hissène Habré, ancien President du Tchad est accusé de crimes contre l’humanité, de crimes de guerre et de torture durant sa présidence de 1982 à 1990.Pour toute demande d’interview, veuillez-vous adresser à Mme Esther Azaa Tankou, Chef de Division de l’Information, Direction de l’Information et de la Communication de l’Union Africaine,
Tel : +251 911361185,
E-mail : yamboue@africa-union.org / esthertankou@yahoo.comPour plus d’information, veuillez contacter le Bureau du Conseiller juridique de l’UA a l’Adresse suivante : Tel : +251 11 518 23 07,
E-mail :CamaraF@africa-union.org .Pour de plus amples informations, veuillez contacter
Direction de l'Information et de la Communication |Commission de l' Union africaine E-mail: SiteWebdinfo@african-union.orgI:www.au.intjeAddis-Abeba|Ethiopie
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October 24, 2014The African Union and Loyola University Chicago sign milestone Memorandum of Understanding to build capacity within the...The African Union and Loyola University Chicago sign milestone Memorandum of Understanding to build capacity within the African Union
WASHINGTON, DC – USA – 24 October 2014: the African Union and Loyola University Chicago signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that signifies a multi-year program of cooperation designed to build capacity within the African Union, its Member States, and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), to strengthen governance and the rule of law.
Under the MOU, Loyola will partner the AU to train and educate the staff of the AU, RECS and AU Member States to strengthen their capacity to advance the rule of law throughout the region, an effort to be driven by African rule of law leaders and represent a dynamic force for change.
Prof. Vincent Nmehielle, the AU Legal Counsel and Prof. David Yellen, Dean of the School of Law at Loyola University Chicago, signed the MOU on 24 October 2014 at the AU Representational Mission to the United States of America in Washington, DC, in the presence of Amb. Amina Salum Ali, the AU representative to the US and senior staff of the office, representatives of Loyola University; the US State Department, the African diplomatic corps; the World Bank, and other invited guests.
Reinforcing Loyola’s commitment to peace and justice, the School of Law offers an innovative Master of Laws (LLM) in Rule of Law for Development. Launched in 2011, this unique program called PROLAW, provides training to advance social justice across the globe through effective, sustainable governance, and strengthening of the rule of law. PROLAW is organized at Loyola University’s Chicago John Felice Rome Center in Italy.
Under the terms of the MOU, selected staff and employees of the AU, officials of AU Member States and staff of the RECS will attend PROLAW’s one-year, degree-granting program. Upon graduation, individuals will return to their home countries or respective organizations to assume the task of strengthening governance and the rule of law. In addition, Loyola will implement bi-annual, complementary seminars and workshops at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to further the development of AU staff. The program of cooperation is expected to educate more than 100 rule of law professionals over the next three years. The U.S. Department of State has played a key role in supporting the work outlined in the agreement.
For more information, visit http://www.au.int
About the African Union
The African Union spearheads Africa’s development and integration in close collaboration with African Union Member States, the Regional Economic Communities and African citizens. AU Vision: to accelerate progress towards an integrated, prosperous and inclusive Africa, at peacewith itself, playing a dynamic role in the continental and global arena, effectively driven by an accountable,efficient and responsive Commission. Learn more at: http://www.au.int/en/
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September 26, 2014Regional Courses on International Law, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2-27 February 2015
Regional Courses on International Law, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2-27 February 2015
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August 25, 2014 to August 26, 2014Brainstorming on the strategy to speed up Ratification, Accession and Implementation of OAU/AU Treaties in Eastern...Brainstorming on the Strategy to Speed up Ratification, Accession and Implementation of OAU/AU Treaties in Eastern Africa Region
Nairobi, Kenya – 26 August 2014. The African Union Commission (AUC) through its Office of the Legal Counsel, convened a two (2) day brainstorming session on strategies to harmonise and speed up ratification, accession and implementation as well as to identify best practices on reporting, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms on the implementation of OAU/AU Treaties in the Eastern Africa Region, through the Ministerial Committee on the challenges of ratification/accession and implementation of OAU/AU treaties.
“The slow pace of ratification and implementation of decisions on the OAU/AU treaties by AU Member States is a major concern to achieve the objectives related to economic, social, cultural, and political integration of the African continent”, said the Chair of the meeting Mr. Mapango Kemishanga Gerard, Chairperson of the Ministerial Committee on the Challenges of Ratification/Accession and Implementation of OAU/AU Treaties, in his opening remarks.
Representatives from Member States of the Eastern Africa Region, experts of the Ministerial Committee set up by the AU, independent experts, representatives from various departments of the AUC as well as representatives from the civil society presented their perspectives, and discussed and identified the main reasons for the slow pace of signature, ratification and implementation of OAU/AU treaties. Challenges including lack of political will, lack of coordination, bureaucracy, lack of human resources, financial constraints were highlighted as key challenges in the process.
“It is important to firstly identify, with accuracy, the causes of the slow pace of ratification and implementation of OAU/AU treaties”, said Mrs. Beatrice Karogo, representative of the Head of Legal Affairs Directorate on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Kenya in her welcoming statement.
The major outcomes of the brainstorming include improved appreciation of the importance of OAU/AU treaties by Member States as well as increased ability of the ministerial committee to support, sensitise and enhance the commitment of Member States to the need for signature, ratification and implementation of the various legal instruments.
“The number of states that are parties to a treaty is of paramount importance. Indeed, AU treaty regimes represent a network of legal relationships between AU Member States. If a significant number of Member States are not part of the regime, its overall effectiveness will be diminished. In order to address this perennial problem, the AUC proposed the establishment of a Ministerial Committee on the Challenges of Ratification/Accession and Implementation of OAU/AU Treaties. Our objective is to ensure that the Ministerial Committee holds its inaugural session in January/June 2015 and the experts of the said Committee approve the recommendations of this meeting” declared Prof. Vincent O. Nmehielle, the Legal Counsel and Director for Legal Affairs of the African Union Commission, in his opening remarks.
The ratification/accession and implementation of the OAU/AU legal instruments require a deeper commitment of the African Union member states since the principles enshrined in those treaties represent the common shared values for those member states. In particular, ratification implies the acceptance by the states not only of the legal obligations enshrined in the instruments, but also their commitment to respond to Africa’s common development and integration challenges.
The brainstorming session strongly recommended that the national sectorial committees should be operationalized in each member State by January/June 2015. Furthermore, the meeting recommended that the ministerial committee should select a list of treaties related to the Agenda 2063 and of paramount importance to the integration of the continent which each Member State should ratify within a one year period.
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July 11, 2014Press Conference on the AU Summit Decision on the Protocol on African Court of Human and Peoples RightsMEDIA ADVISORY
Press Conference on the AU Summit Decision on the Protocol on African Court of Human and Peoples Rights
What: Press Conference on the AU Summit Decision on the Protocol on African Court of Human and Peoples Rights
When: Friday, 11 July 2014, @11:30a.m.
Where: Media Briefing Room 1, AU Commission Conference Complex,
Addis Ababa, EthiopiaWho: AU Legal Counsel, Prof. Vincent Nmehielle
Background:
During the 23rd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union that held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea from 26-27 June 2014, the Assembly adopted a protocol on the draft statute of the African Court on Human and Peoples Rights, extending criminal jurisdiction to the court. One of the provisions, amongst others, was to extend immunity to serving heads of states and all senior government officials during their term of office.
At the press conference on Friday, the AU Legal Counsel will be throwing more light on the Protocol, while clarifying the misperception of “Blanket immunity” granted to African Leaders.Contact for confirmation or other media inquiries:
Mrs. Wynne Musabayana, Directorate of Information and Communication, African Union Commission, e-mail: MusabayanaW@africa-union.orgFollow us
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July 10, 2014AU Assembly Extends Mandate of the African Union Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan
AU ASSEMBLY EXTENDS MANDATE OF THE AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON SOUTH SUDAN
Addis Ababa, 10 July 2014: Following the presentation of its Interim Report to the Assembly of Heads of States and Government, the mandate of the African Union Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan (AUCISS) was extended for 3 months (July –September 2014) by the decision of the 23rd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the AU held in Malabo from 26 to 27 June 2014.
The Commission’s request for extension of time was justified by the need to conduct more extensive consultations with different sectors of South Sudanese Society in all the 10 states as well as the Diaspora and to finalize investigations.
The AUCISS was established by the Peace and Security Council as a response to the crisis in South Sudan. It is tasked with investigating violations of human rights and humanitarian law committed during the crisis and making recommendations relating to healing, reconciliation, accountability, and institutional reforms.
In the first three months of its mandate period, the Commission conducted consultations with South Sudanese in South Sudan and neighbouring countries. These included President Salva Kiir and Dr Riek Machar as well as some members of civil society and intellectuals.
The Commission’s Interim Report, which conceptualizes its mandate and details the Commission’s approach to the four mandate areas as well as key activities undertaken in the first three months, can be accessed at:
http://summits.au.int/en/23rdsummit/documents/interim-report-african-uni...