Admissibility of complaints before the African Court : FIDH publishes a practical guide

30/06/2016
Report
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(Paris) FIDH publishes a practical guide which aims to support lawyers and human rights defenders submitting complaints before the African Court of Human and People’s Rights. This guide provides information with regards to the procedure and admissibility conditions required to submit a communication before this regional judicial mechanism. This guide was elaborated within the framework of a program implemented in partnership with the African Court Coalition.

« Today, most of the cases brought before the African Court are rejected even before any examination of the alleged violations. This innovative guide provides key tools to know when and how to submit a complaint before the Court and to maximize chances that it will be found admissible »

Karim Lahidji, FIDH president

This guide gives an overview of the rules and the jurisprudence of the African Court regarding admissibility of communications. In it, FIDH and its member and partner organisations share their expertise in Africa and worldwide supporting victims of human rights violations in judicial procedures at national, regional and international level.

The objective of this tool is therefore to guide lawyers and human rights defenders supporting victims of human rights violations perpetrated by States, so that their cases brought before the African Court will be examined on its merits.

« This practical guide aims at promoting a better access to justice and reparations for the victims of human rights violations on the African continent when remedies at the national level are exhausted, nonexistent, or were not satisfactory »

Sheila Nabachwa, FIDH Vice-president

Its overarching goal is to to reinforce the African human rights system and to encourage African States to respect human rights.

Download the guide Admissibility of complaints before the African Court

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