This work examines the role of the Organization of African Unity, now the African Union, and how it has dealt with human rights since its inception in 1963. It considers the role of its main institutions both under the OAU and its transformation into the African Union. The book is divided into chapters examining various themes including the rights of women, the rights of the child, the concept of democracy and the right to development. Written by a leading human rights scholar, this book is essential reading for lawyers acting for African states, and for foreign governments and NGOs active in...

The African Charter of Human and Peoples' Rights came into force in 1986, and is unique in that it lacks a precedent. However, little scholarship exists analysing it as an operational system in practice. The success of the first edition of this book led to this updated second edition. Contributors include experts who have been actively involved in the implementation of the Charter - commissioners, NGOs and academics. Offering a detailed evaluation of the Charter as a mechanism for the promotion and protection of human rights in Africa, the contributions cover the Charter's reporting system,...

National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), defined by the UN as bodies established to promote and protect human rights, have increased in number since the General Assembly adopted principles governing their effectiveness in 1993. The UN and others have encouraged states to set up such institutions as an indication of their commitment to human rights, and now over 20 such institutions exist in Africa and many more will follow. These institutions have taken various forms including ombudsmen, commissions, or a combination of the two. They differ in terms of how they are established - some by...

Fourteen years since its establishment, the work of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights has not received the attention that should have been paid to its important contributions towards the promotion and protection of human rights in Africa. The aim of this publication is to provide not only the basic documents, but also the less well known material related to the jurisprudence emanating from the consideration of communications. This book, therefore, includes, amongst other material, the twelve activity reports adopted by the Commission, resolutions, and final communiqu s from...

This is the second volume of Documents of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights published by Hart Publishing (Volume I, 1999, ISBN:9781841130927). The second volume includes the key documents published between 1998 and 2007. Once again the aim of the work is to provide not only the basic documents, but also the less well known material related to the jurisprudence emanating from the consideration of communications. This volume therefore includes, amongst other material, the most recent activity reports adopted by the Commission, resolutions, and final communiques from the...

Murray's analysis challenges the applicability of international law to the African situation. This book not only makes an important contribution to legal scholarship but will serve as a reference work, a textbook and an invaluable practitioners tool.

An 'implementation crisis' has been identified in the enforcement of rulings of UN and regional human rights bodies and fundamental but crucial questions remain unanswered: what exactly does it mean to implement and comply with international and regional human rights decisions; and what factors influence whether a state implements and complies or not? Much more is now known about the work of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, but a gap still exists in the literature on the implementation of the findings of the Commission. This book draws upon the data and evaluation from a...

A detailed commentary of the key document which governs national human rights institutions, including a principle-by-principle commentary.