Bodies renew alliance on court decisions execution

ARUSHA: THE African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AFCHPR) and the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) have renewed their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to further enhance monitoring and implementation of court decisions and enforcement.

AFCHPR Justice Stella Anukam disclosed the matter over the weekend during the conference on the implementation of the decisions of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights held in Arusha.

Justice Anukam said AFCHPR and NHRIs signed the MoU on June 3 this year for the purpose of enhancing their capacity of monitoring the implementation of court decisions.

“This MoU will help us to collaborate with other institutions and civil society organisations to improve the enforcement of the African court’s decisions,” said Justice Anukam.

According to her, the enforcement of the African court’s decisions should complement the protection of human rights and contribute to the effectiveness of the court’s mandate to protect human rights on the continent.

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She noted that the submission of reports on the enforcement of the court’s decisions has never provided an opportunity for extensive dialogue between the Court and the Executive Council.

Justice Anukam added that the AFCHPR encouraged the Executive Council to establish a framework for monitoring the enforcement of the court decisions in the continent.

She observed that the organ responsible for guaranteeing the enforcement of the court’s decisions has not yet used its powers even though the Protocol designates the Executive Council as the secular arm in the process of enforcing the court’s decisions.

“It is both necessary and important for the Executive Council to show greater commitment by first drawing up guidelines on the execution of the tasks conferred on it by the protocol,” she noted.