The African Court on Human and People’s Rights has agreed to further engage and sensitise stakeholders and member states on compliance with its decisions and advancement of human rights on the continent.
This was part of the resolutions reached after a two-day virtual meeting with resource persons familiar with the work of the court from different stakeholder groups, including member states, the academia, AU organs, CSOs and litigants.
In a statement, the Registrar of the court, Dr Robert Eno, said, “There have been criticisms on, for example, the quality of the judgments of the court, the low disposal rate of cases, alleged biases in favour of applicants, undermining state sovereignty and independence of judges.”
The court said it would work to reduce criticisms and tense relationships with member states which had manifested in various ways, including the withdrawal of the Article 34(6) Declarations, non-ratification of the protocol, non-compliance with court decisions and non-submission of pleadings.
It further said, “Within the past two years for example, the court has recorded three withdrawals of declaration. As at 31st January, 2021, of the over 100 judgments and orders rendered by the court, only one state party, that is Burkina Faso, had fully complied with the judgments.”
