For African nations to prosper and for Africa to achieve the development envisioned for the future and encapsulated in Africa’s #Agenda2063, countries must implement democratic value and governance practices so as to ensure all citizens enjoy the freedoms enshrined in law and recognised within the principals of Universal Human Rights and have equitable access to all resources including justice and the rule of law so that they can thrive and live their lives to the fullest potential
This vision for an Africa whose development is premised on good governance where there is respect for Human rights, justice and the rule of law is founded on The African Charter on Human and People’s Rights which recognises that development cannot be disassociated from civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights and all these rights must be present for societies to grow. (download charter from au.int/en/treaties/1164)
The African Charter on Human and People’s Rights was borne out of the realisation that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (ratified in 1948) failed to adequately address the human right’s needs & issues on the African continent- and more significantly; address the injustices inflicted during colonial rule, or even apartheid.
The African Charter on Human and People’s Rights which was adopted by the Assembly of the African Union in June 1981 states that “Every individual is entitled to the Rights and freedoms recognised and guaranteed in the Charter without distinction of any kind such as race, ethnic group, colour, sex, language, religion, political or any other opinion, national and social origin, fortune, birth or other status”
The judicial, human rights and legal organs of the African Union are mandated to ensure that the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights is implemented. These organs are: The African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (Banjul, Gambia); The African Court on Human and People’s Rights (Arusha, Tanzania); The AU Commission on International Law (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia); The AU Advisory Board against Corruption (Arusha, Tanzania)and The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (Maseru, Lesotho) Learn more about the Judicial Organs of the AU on au.int/en/legal-organs
12 ноя 2023
