Joint Press Release

EU provides support to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights

Arusha, 23 November 2016

Today the European Commission signed a €2.5 million contract with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) and a €2 million contract with the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Arusha, Tanzania, on the side-lines of the Fifth High-Level Dialogue on Democracy, Human Rights and Governance in Africa. The three-year contracts are part of the wider €10 million European Union support aimed at strengthening the African Human Rights System under the EU Pan-African Programme.

The main objective of the contract with the ACHPR is to improve the respect for human rights under the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and other relevant human rights instruments. The ACHPR will advocate for and monitor the implementation of instruments in the African Union Member States with a view to contributing to the rights-based approach to democracy and the rule of law in the AU Member States.

The contract with the ACHPR especially concentrates on litigation, ensuring timely adjudication of complaints to the African Court as well as diligent follow-up on compliance by the AU Member States. It will also raise awareness to enable citizens to have a clear understanding of their rights and duties. The ACHPR will work with partners and stakeholders to document good practices in legal and policy reform, develop general comments and undertake joint investigative missions.

The main objective of the contract with the African Court is to streamline Court processes to drive efficiency, improve understanding on the proceedings of the Court and enhance access to the Court. The Court is also expected to reduce time for completion of cases and ensure adequate and timely compensation to victims. The Court will work to increase the number of ratifications of the Protocol on the establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the number of countries which have deposited the Article 34(6) declaration allowing individuals and civil society organisations direct access to the Court.

The EU has been supporting Africa's human rights organs since 2011 in the framework of the African Union Support Programme.