ARUSHA, Tanzania – According to the President of the African Human Rights Court, Professor Gerard Niungeko, the Court and those having an interest in it urgently need to campaign for additional signatories to the Court’s establishing Protocol. Only 22 of the 53 African Union (AU) member States have ratified the Court’s establishing Protocol. Only one country, Burkino Faso, has accepted the AU Court’s power to hear claims from NGO’s and individuals.

The Court is empowered to issue binding decisions on AU members and is currently hiring staff for its new location and headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.

For more information, please see:

Allafrica.com – Africa: Only 24 African Countries Have Ratified Protocol for Human Rights Court – 18 February, 2008

African Union – List of Countries Which have Signed, Ratified/Acceded to the Protocol  to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and People’s Rights –  accessed 19 February, 2008