Tema-Ghana, Oct. 25 – After a three-day sensitization mission, the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights concluded its work with the Republic of Cape Verde.
The goal of the mission was to start a positive dialogue with the country so that it could consider ratifying the African Court Protocol and submitting the Declaration in accordance with Article 34(6) of the Protocol.
The African Court President, Lady Justice Imani Daud Aboud, the Vice President, Justice Modibo Sacko, and a few Registry employees made up the delegation.
The African Court delegation met with President José Maria Neves and other senior government officials, according to a statement.
The African Court statement states that the Cape Verdean government promised to take the request into consideration and discuss it with the pertinent human rights stakeholders in the nation.
The African Court President, Lady Justice Aboud, informed reporters that the ratification of the Protocol and the acceptance of the Court’s jurisdiction, as stipulated in Article 34(6) of the Protocol, are necessary for the African Court to fulfil its role as a human rights protection authority.
She claimed that the African Court has the authority to carry out its task because of the signing of the Protocol and recognition of its jurisdiction.
Although it has not yet ratified the Protocol, Cape Verde has accepted the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Only eight African Union member states have submitted the Declaration, while 34 have approved the Protocol, according to data from the African Court as of right now.
Burkina Faso, the Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Malawi, Mali, Niger, and Tunisia are the eight brave nations.
The African Court was founded in accordance with Article 1 of the Protocol on the Establishment of an African Court to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which was ratified on June 9, 1998, and came into effect on January 25, 2004.
Its goal is to “complement the protective functions conferred on the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights by the Charter” and guarantee the judicial protection of human rights throughout Africa.
Strengthening the protection of human rights in Africa, starting talks with Member States to ratify the Protocol and deposit the Declaration, providing direct access to the Court for individuals and non-governmental organisations, and educating prospective applicants about the process that applies before the Court are the primary goals of its outreach visits.
Eleven judges who are citizens of African Union member states that have joined the Protocol make up the African Court.
They are chosen on a personal basis from among jurists with a strong moral reputation, as well as those with established academic, legal, or judicial credentials and experience in the area of human and people’s rights.
The African Court may convene an Extra-Ordinary Session in addition to its four annual Ordinary Sessions.
