Articles
Paving The Way To More Justice
The Afro-Asian Peoples' Solidarity Organization-AAPSO-is pleased to acknowledge the entry into force of the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights. No doubt, this memorable event is a landmark in the history of African Human Rights development of mechanism for the protection of these rights.
This shows to what extent the need to take appropriate measures to face up to the phenomenal increase of human rights violations in Africa and worldwide alike has become urgent.
In the process of a steadily changing world as well as the globalization being imposed upon the international community, the existence of an African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights is a great opportunity for International Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), to have a say on what should be their role vis-à-vis the Court itself. Such role has been widely recognized by the international community.
Particularly with Africa, the NGOs are sought to be viable and indispensable partners of the Court, because their activities can shed a greater light on the intricate research and investigations which must be carried out on the subject of human rights violations. Indeed, it is difficult, even impossible in many of cases, at the sole governmental level, to successfully carry out and bring into full completion any investigations over war crimes, organized crimes, common law crimes, genocide and other criminal acts perpetrated against populations or groups of persons, without the support and the contribution of the NGOs.
An effective, just and equitable African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights will be possible if only its adopts a firm stand vis-à-vis the factors that might lead to deviate from its mandate.
In this context, AAPSO is of the view that ACourtHPR should be:
- in total independence vis-à-vis governments, states, organizations, groups or individuals who might be tempted to influence the Court anyway.
- impartial in the ruling pronouncements and decisions, avoiding any double standards policy;
- clearly objective in all investigations, analyses and elaboration of results;
- in effective cooperation with all potential actors who might be seriously interested in implementing the decisions and the rulings of the Court.
It should be stressed that an independent, impartial and objective African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights presents itself as being hardly affected by corruption, bribery, slowness, laxism and other kinds of manipulation.
While supporting the creation of the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights, AAPSO calls for the eradication of massive violations of human rights in Africa as well as the impunity which is unfortunately the rule rather than the exception in several African countries.
An African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights might not be merely an executive power; it could be also a formidable power of dissuasion, which could contribute to strengthen peace and the security of African populations.
