The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) is an supranational body tasked with promoting and protecting human rights throughout the African continent. It was originally an agency of the Organisation of African Unity but, following the June 2002 transformation of the OAU into the African Union, it was transferred to the purview of the latter body. For the political science journal, see: International Organization An international organization (also called intergovernmental organization) is an organization of international scope or character. ... Human rights are rights which some hold to be inalienable and belonging to all humans. ... Africa is the worlds second-largest continent and third most populous. ... Flag of the Organisation of African Unity, later also used by the African Union. ... 2002 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December A timeline of events in the news for June, 2002. ... Anthem: Let us all unite and celebrate together Official languages The African languages, as well as Arabic, English, French and Portuguese Some member states have other official languages. ...

The Commission came into existence with the coming into force, on 21 October 1986, of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (adopted by the OAU on 27 June 1981). Its first panel of members were elected by the OAU's 23rd assembly of heads and state and government in June 1987 and the Commission was formally installed for the first time on 2 November of that year. For the first two years of its existence, the Commission was based at the OAU Secretariat in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, but in November 1989 it relocated to its own, purpose-built premises in Banjul, Gambia. October 21 is the 294th day of the year (295th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 71 days remaining. ... 1986 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... ... June 27 is the 178th day of the year (179th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 187 days remaining. ... 1981 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1987 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... November 2 is the 306th day of the year (307th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 59 days remaining. ... average temperature and precipitations per month Addis Ababa (Amharic አዲስ አበባ, new flower) is the capital of Ethiopia. ... 1989 is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Street in Banjul city Banjul is the capital of The Gambia with a population of 34,828 as of 2003. ...

Composition

The ACHPR is made up of eleven members, elected by secret ballot at the OAU Assembly of Heads of State and Government (subsequently, by the AU's Assembly). These members, who serve six-year renewable terms, are "chosen from amongst African personalities of the highest reputation, known for their high morality, integrity, impartiality and competence in matters of human and peoples' rights" (Charter, Article 31) and, in selecting these personalities, particular consideration is given "to persons having legal experience".

The members are to enjoy full independence in discharging their duties and serve on a personal basis (i.e., not representing their home states); however, no member state may have more than one of its nationals on the Commission at any given time. The members choose, from among their own number, a chairman and a vice-Chairman, who each serve two-year renewable periods.

Mandate

The Commission has three broad areas of responsibility:

• Promoting human and peoples' rights
• Protecting human and peoples' rights
• Interpreting the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights

In pursuit of these goals, the Commission is to "collect documents, undertake studies and researches on African problems in the field of human and peoples, rights, organise seminars, symposia and conferences, disseminate information, encourage national and local institutions concerned with human and peoples' rights and, should the case arise, give its views or make recommendations to governments" (Charter, Art. 45).

The Commission has created six Special Mechanisms to monitor human and peoples' rights on the continent, including the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression. Appointed in December 2004, Andrew Chigovera is responsible for analysing and monitoring Member States' laws and policies to ensure that they comply with the Commission's Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression, and conducting fact-finding missions to Member States where serious free expression violations have been reported. He also keeps the Commission informed by delivering regular reports on the state of freedom of expression in Africa.

With the creation of the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights (under a protocol to the Charter which was adopted in 1998 and entered into force in January 2004), the Commission will have the additional task of preparing cases for submission to the Court's jurisdiction. In a July 2004 decision, the AU Assembly resolved that the future Court on Human and Peoples' Rights would be integrated with the African Court of Justice. Will merge with the African Court of Justice in the future. ... 1998 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... 2004 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December See also: July 2004 in sports Deaths in July • 31 David B. Haight • 29 Francis Crick • 29 Nafisa Joseph • 23 Joe Cahill • 23 Mehmood • 23 Illinois Jacquet • 23 Carlos Paredes • 22 Sacha Distel • 21 Jerry Goldsmith • 21... The African Court of Justice will at some point in the future be merged with the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights and be the African Unions legal organ. ...

External links

• African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights
• African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights