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.

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.

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 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).

With the creation of the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights (under a protocol to the Charter adopted in 1998 but not yet in force), the Commission will the additional task of preparing cases for submission to the Court's jurisdiction.

External links

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