African Commission on Human and People’s Rights
From TrustAfrica wiki - African Regional Organizations
African Commission on Human and People’s Rights
48 Kairaba Avenue,
P.O. Box 673 Banjul
The Gambia
Tel: +220-4392 962, 4372 070, 437 721 – 23
Fax: +220-4390 764
Email: achpr@achpr.org
Website: http://www.achpr.org
Madame Salamata Sawadogo, Chairperson
Yaser Sid Ahmad El-Hassan, Vice Chairperson
Description
Established in 1981 by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights became operational in 1987, and is based in Banjul, The Gambia.
The Commission’s mandate is threefold: the protection of human and peoples' rights; the promotion of human and peoples' rights, and the interpretation of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights. It implements this mandate by: considering state reports on compliance with the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ under Article 62; conducting studies and research on specific issues pertaining to human and peoples’ rights; developing principles on specific legal issues in the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights; conducting visits at country level to interface with governments and civil society on human and peoples’ rights; convening seminar and conferences; considering complaints from individuals, organisations and states; and conducting protective missions in cases of massive human rights violations.
The ACHPR is made up of eleven members, elected by secret ballot at the AU Heads of State Summit. Members serve six-year renewable terms, and choose from among their number a chairperson and a vice chairperson, who each serve two-year renewable terms.
