The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights embarked on a three-day sensitisation visit to Kenya from July 18 to 20, 2023, to encourage the government to fast-track the process to deposit the Declaration that allows individuals to access the Court directly.
The team consisted of the Registrar, Dr. Robert Eno, the Vice President, Justice Sacko Modibo, Lady Justice Imani Daud Aboud, the President of the African Court, and key Registry employees.
In a statement, Lady Justice Aboud said that the success of the African Continental Court as a continental mechanism for human rights protection—established by the African Union Member States themselves—depended on greater acceptance and recognition of its contributions by African nations.
“This universal acceptance and recognition will give the Court the legitimacy it needs to effectively carry out its mandate,” she emphasised.
In addition to promoting ratification of the Protocol and deposit of the Declaration to give people and NGOs direct access to the Court, Lady Justice Aboud noted that the visit was also intended to increase awareness of the Court.
The African Court delegation also took advantage of the occasion to inform potential applicants about how to contact the Court and its procedures, encourage the general public to use the Court to resolve human rights disputes, and promote the use of the Court for advisory opinions.
The Kenyan President, Dr. William Samoei Ruto, as well as the Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court, Lady Justice Martha Koome, were among the dignitaries visited by the African Court delegation.
The Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Moses Wetangula, the Speaker of the Senate, Amason Jeffah Kingi, the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Dr. Alfred Mutua, the Attorney General, Justin B.N. Muturi, and the Chairperson of Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, Roseline Odede, were also involved in the sensitization visit.
This sensitisation trip to Kenya was a significant step because the Court had already made a comparable trip there in July 2013.
In accordance with the Court documents, Kenya joined the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on February 18, 2005, but has not yet deposited the Declaration required by Article 34(6) of this Protocol, which would grant individuals and Non-Governmental Organisations direct access to the Court.
Only eight African nations—Ghana, Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Malawi, Mali, Niger, and Tunisia—have so far deposited the Declaration, allowing for direct access to the African Court for individuals and NGOs.
In order to strengthen the protection of human rights on the continent, the African Court complements the defending mandate of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The improvement of the protection of human rights in Africa is the main goal of these sensitization trips.
Eleven judges who are citizens of African Union Member States were chosen for the African Court in their individual capacities.
It convenes four Ordinary Sessions per year and may also hold Extraordinary Sessions.