African System – Page 6 – International Justice Resource Center

African Commission Declaration Recommends Expanded Protections for Human Rights Defenders

July 10, 2017 IJRC African System, assembly and association, civil society, discrimination, enforced disappearance, health, human rights defenders, international human rights, liberty & security of person, regional human rights protection, reproductive and sexual rights, right to life, thought, expression & association, torture, Universal system, women's rights

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) recently published the Cotonou Declaration on strengthening and expanding the protection of all Human Rights Defenders in Africa that recommends repealing harmful and discriminatory laws, ensuring compliance with existing international standards that impact human rights defenders, and developing standards on women human rights defenders, among other recommendations. Adopted earlier this year during the 2nd

African Court Issues First Ruling on Violations Against Indigenous Peoples

June 7, 2017 IJRC African System, cultural rights, discrimination, economic, social & cultural rights, freedom of religion, indigenous communities, international human rights, property, regional human rights protection, right to life

In its first judgment on the treatment and rights of indigenous people, the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR) held that Kenya violated the Ogiek peoples’ rights to land, religion, culture, development, and non-discrimination. See AfCHPR, African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights v. Kenya, App. no. 006/2012, Judgment of 26 May 2017. Specifically, the African Court held

News Clips- June 2, 2017

June 2, 2017 IJRC African System, assembly and association, civil society, cultural rights, discrimination, economic, social & cultural rights, freedom of religion, international human rights, labor rights, migrants, News Clips, regional human rights protection, thought, expression & association, UN General Assembly, UN Human Rights Council, Universal system

Civil Society On Wednesday, a court in Bahrain ordered the dissolution of the last major opposition group in the country. [Washington Post] This week, it was reported that labor activists investigating alleged abuses at a Chinese factory producing Ivanka Trump shoes were detained or missing. [Guardian] On Friday, hundreds of Palestinians protested Israeli troops across the West Bank and Gaza

African Commission Launches General Comment on Torture Victims’ Right to Redress

May 23, 2017 IJRC African System, children, health, international human rights, regional human rights protection, reparations, reproductive and sexual rights, torture, transitional justice, women's rights

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) recently launched General Comment No. 4 on the right to redress for victims of torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading punishment or treatment, which was previously adopted during the 21st Extra-Ordinary Session of the ACHPR. See ACommHPR, General Comment No. 4 on the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights:

Tunisia Allows Individuals and NGOs Direct Access to African Court

April 26, 2017 IJRC African System, assembly and association, conditions of detention, LGBTI rights, regional human rights protection, thought, expression & association, torture, UN Special Procedures, UN treaty bodies, Universal system, women's rights

Tunisia formally agreed last week to allow individuals and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to directly access the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR) with complaints of human rights violations against Tunisia. Tunisia joins seven other countries that also currently grant the Court the same jurisdiction. [AfCHPR Press Release] The government of Tunisia hosted a delegation of the AfCHPR in

News Clips- April 21, 2017

April 21, 2017 IJRC African System, armed conflict, assembly and association, civil society, crime & impunity, democracy & political rights, immigration & asylum, International Criminal Court, international criminal law, international human rights, labor rights, liberty & security of person, migrants, News Clips, regional human rights protection, thought, expression & association, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Universal system

Civil Society On Wednesday, anti-government protesters marched in the streets of Caracas, Venezuela amid riot police while the government held counter-demonstrations. [Washington Post] On Tuesday, the Human Rights Commission in Ethiopia reported 669 deaths resulting from anti-government protests in the country. [BBC News] On Saturday, a United States aid worker was released from pretrial detention in Egypt after three years.

News Clips- March 24, 2017

March 24, 2017 IJRC African System, armed conflict, assembly and association, civil society, discrimination, economic, social & cultural rights, environmental rights, immigration & asylum, Inter-American System, international human rights, LGBTI rights, migrants, News Clips, regional human rights protection, right to life, thought, expression & association, Universal system

Civil Society On Thursday, a civil society organization called for an end to the targeting, prosecuting, and detention of journalists in Belarus. [Committee to Protect Journalists] On Wednesday, activists, politicians, and religious leaders protested unfair elections in Zimbabwe. [Fox News] This week in Macedonia, an estimated 50,000 individuals protested a potential coalition government, which includes Social Democrats and ethnic Albanians. [DW

African Union: Despite Progress Women Still Lack Equality, Basic Rights

March 13, 2017 IJRC African System, children, democracy & political rights, discrimination, economic, social & cultural rights, education, equal protection, family, health, international human rights, labor rights, liberty & security of person, property, regional human rights protection, reproductive and sexual rights, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Universal system, women's rights

Ahead of International Women’s Day, the African Union in conjunction with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and UN Women launched the inaugural report of a planned series concerning the human rights of women in Africa; the report indicates that while women’s participation in politics has increased, women’s rights and equality are severely lacking

UN Finds Libyan Trial Violated Rights of Gaddafi Regime Members

February 28, 2017 IJRC African System, domestic courts, due process & judicial protection, international criminal law, international human rights, liberty & security of person, regional human rights protection, torture, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Universal system

In a report published on February 21, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) concluded that the trial of 37 former members of the Gaddafi regime, including Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, failed to meet international due process standards. See UNSMIL & OHCHR, Report on the Trial of

March 2017: United Nations and Regional Human Rights Bodies in Session

February 27, 2017 IJRC African System, children, civil society, cultural rights, economic, social & cultural rights, European System, health, indigenous communities, Inter-American System, international human rights, judicial independence, LGBTI rights, liberty & security of person, monthly overview, persons with disabilities, regional human rights protection, reproductive and sexual rights, UN Human Rights Council, UN Special Procedures, UN treaty bodies, Universal system, women's rights

In the month of March 2017, various universal and regional bodies and experts will assess States’ compliance with their human rights obligations through consideration of State and civil society reports, country visits, review of individual complaints, and deliberation over thematic reports. Five United Nations treaty bodies will meet to engage with States regarding their treaty obligations related to economic, social,