African Court engages human rights advocates in Liberia

The African Court on Human and People’s Rights has rolled out a mechanism to educate and sensitize over a hundred public and social actors who are undertaking human rights-related activities in Monrovia, Liberia.

The seminar climaxed with a week-long sensitization visit by the African Court delegation, led by Lady Justice Imani Daud Aboud, President of the African Court, and Vice President Justice Modibo Sacko, who, together with a seven-member team, engaged with Liberian authorities and various stakeholders in the human rights sector.

At the center of the seminar was to encourage the government of the Republic of Liberia to ratify the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the establishment of an African Court’s Protocol and depositing of the Declaration that allows direct access to the Court by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and individuals.

In a statement obtained by the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) in Tema-Ghana, Lady Justice Aboud acknowledged the role played by various sectors in human rights in Liberia, stressing that their input is crucial in shaping a national consensus on embracing the jurisdiction of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

“We are keen to engage with civil society organizations and the legal community to encourage a broad-based discussion on the implications of ratification,” she said.

The Principal Legal Officer of the African Court, Dr. Mwiza Nkhata, gave an enlightening presentation, providing an overview of the Court, including its establishment, composition, operations, and case management, from the filing of an application to the implementation of decisions.

The presentation triggered questions and lengthy deliberations that bordered on the functions of the African Court, its relationship with other regional courts and quasi-judicial institutions, the application of human rights instruments in Liberia, and human rights protection mechanisms in the country.

Participants thanked the African Court for organizing the sensitization seminar, admitting that it had opened their eyes to numerous opportunities offered by the African Court, including information on how potential applicants can seize the African Court and how the Liberian public can seize the African Court to settle human rights disputes.

The seminar was held a day after the Government of the Republic of Liberia committed to both the ratification of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Protocol) and the depositing of the Declaration that allows direct access to the Court by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and individuals.