Tema-Ghana, June 7, CDA Consult – The European Court of Human Rights, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, and the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights have all reaffirmed their dedication to collaboration and teamwork, which has allowed each court to share its conceptual and jurisprudential standards for the benefit of the three individual systems.
At the conclusion of a conference conducted in San José, Costa Rica, on May 25 and 26, 2023, as part of the Dialogue among Regional Human Rights Courts, the “Declaration of San Jose,” made by the three continental human rights courts, was reiterated.
In a communiqué copied issued at the end of the meeting and copied to the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) in Tema, the three continental human rights courts decided to consider the institutional and historical background of the jurisprudential dialogue.
It was also taken into account the “Declaration of San Jose of July 18, 2018,” in which the three continental human rights courts stated that the goal of their institutional discussion would be to advance the defence of human rights and support access to international justice for those who fall under their respective purviews.
Three continental human rights tribunals have reiterated their dedication to assisting national initiatives to strengthen democratic institutions and human rights protection systems, as well as to working together to solve common problems and threats to the effectiveness of human rights.
In addition, they referred to the Kampala Declaration of October 29, 2019, which emphasised the importance of enhancing communication and exchanging jurisprudence with national courts as one of the mechanisms for ensuring that national courts cite to the judgements of regional courts and supporting the long-term enforcement of these judgements.
The three continental courts also reaffirmed their commitment to the principles and objectives outlined in each of their various regional human rights agreements.
Among the relevant international human rights instruments are the American Convention on Human Rights, the European Convention on Fundamental Rights and Freedoms, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and others.
The three Courts agreed that nations in the three regions that fall within their different jurisdictions must make sure that democracy, human rights, and sustainable development are adequately protected in order to preserve peace and uphold human dignity.
