Arusha, 8 August 2023: The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights will undertake a three-day sensitisation visit to the Republic of Mozambique from 9 to 11 August 2023.
Led by the Court’s President, Honourable Lady Justice Imani Daud Aboud, the mission includes Honourable Lady Justice Tujilane R. Chizumila, and the Deputy Registrar Grace Wakio Kakai, along with other key Registry staff.
The objective of the Court’s visit, according to Honourable Lady Justice Aboud, is to, among others, encourage the Republic of Mozambique to deposit the Declaration that allows individuals and Non-Governmental Organisations to access the Court directly.
She emphasised that the Court’s success as a continental mechanism for human rights protection, established by the African Union Member States themselves, depends on wider acceptance and recognition of its work by African countries.
Honourable Lady Justice Aboud stressed that, “This universal acceptance and recognition will provide the Court with the legitimacy it needs to effectively fulfill its mandate.”
During the mission, the Court delegation is scheduled to pay courtesy calls on various dignitaries, including Her Excellency the President of the Assembly of the Republic, Esperança Laurinda Francisco Nhiuane Bias; The Vice President of the Supreme Court, Honourable Justice João António Beirão; His Excellency The Ombudsman, Honorable Isac Chande; Her Excellency Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Verónica Nataniel Macamo Ndlovo; and Her Excellency Minister of Justice, Constitutional and Religious Affairs, Helena Mateus Kida, His Excellency Vice-Attorney General, Alberto Paulo; His Excellency the President of the Bar Association of Mozambique, Carlos Martins.
This sensitisation visit to the Republic of Mozambique marks a significant step, as the Court had previously undertaken a similar visit twelve years ago, from 25 to 26 August 2011. Furthermore, following the First Retreat of Legal Officers of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights that was held in Maputo in January 2022, the Court undertook to collaborate with the Republic of Mozambique to organise a sensitisation visit .
The Republic of Mozambique deposited the instrument of the ratification of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on 7 March 1990 and became a State Party to the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights on 27 July 2004 but is yet to deposit the Declaration under Article 34(6) of this Protocol, allowing individuals and Non-Governmental Organisations direct access to the Court.
NOTES FOR EDITORS
The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights 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. Its complements the protective mandate of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to enhance human rights protection on the continent.
The primary objective of these sensitisation visits is to enhance the protection of human rights in Africa. Specific objectives include raising awareness about the Court, encouraging ratification of the Protocol and deposit of the Declaration to grant individuals and NGOs direct access to the Court, educating potential applicants on accessing the Court and its procedures, promoting public utilisation of the Court for settling human rights disputes, and encouraging the Court’s utilisation for advisory opinions.
The Court is composed of 11 Judges who are nationals of Member States of the African Union, elected in their individual capacity.
The Court convenes four Ordinary Sessions per year and may also hold Extraordinary Sessions.
For further information on the Court, please visit the Court’s website at
www.african-court.org.
For additional comments, contact:
Dr. Robert Eno, Registrar
Tel: +255272970430/31/32
Email: Robert.Eno@african-court.org
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AfricanCourtMedia@african-court.org
