The African Commission and Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights

Abstract

Copyright © 2018 The Author(s). This chapter examines the contribution of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (1987–2018) and the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (2006–2018) to the protection of human rights and the development of international human rights law. The focus of the chapter is limited to the consideration of the Commission’s contribution with respect to: decisions on admissibility of communications concerning mainly exhaustion of domestic remedies; decisions on merits of communications; adoption of resolutions, principles/guidelines, general comments, model laws, and advisory opinions; special rapporteurs and working groups dealing with thematic human rights issues; consideration of State reports and conducting on-site visits; and referral of communications to the African Court involving unimplemented interim measures, serious or massive violations of human rights, or the Commission’s findings on admissibility and merits. It also considers some difficulties faced by the African Commission and Court.