Africa: Journalists to Fight Human Rights Abuses

By George Okore

Media practitioners from over 35 African countries last week attended a two-day conference to learn about the   functions, jurisdictions, and activities of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR).

The Court President Justice Sophia A.B. Akuffo said the conference will enable African journalists gain more information on the Court and other institutions of the African human rights system. She says African journalists   should forge strong partnership with AfCHPR and other African institutions with a human rights mandate, towards the noble goal of enhanced protection of human rights.

She said as the world observes Jubilee Year of formation of Organization of African Union, now African Union and discussions on human rights must have direct impact on the lives of African citizens. “Together with national, regional, continental and international judiciaries, media is key in ensuring that human rights are enforced, respected, protected and promoted. Journalists are the last line in defense of human rights in the courts of law or in the court of public opinion,” She said.

Esther Azaa Tankou from Africa Union said media should dwell more on promotion and protection of human rights, which are cornerstone for development. She urges African journalists to acquaint themselves with complete information and deeper understanding of the court.

The meeting urged the Court to address rampant impunity enjoyed by culprits of crimes against journalists and African citizens on the continent. It also decreed lack of awareness about the African Court among large sways of African populations and bodies that are entitled to bring cases before it. Article 34 (6) of the protocol that allows individuals and NGOs access to the Court.

Currently, since the adoption of the protocol in 1998, only 26 out of 54 African Union Member states have ratified it. States also have to make a declaration but only seven countries have made the declaration recognizing the competence of the court, authorizing individuals and NGOs to institute cases directly before the African Court.

The conference agreed to  develop  effective working relationship between  the Court and  the  media  to  enhance   human  rights  protection raising  awareness  about  the  African  Court. This was triggered by the fact that the court is not largely known to the public. “The media can help Africa and its citizens understand that human rights protection is not a dream. We already have our Court on Human and peoples’ rights that our citizens can use to claim their rights when they are not satisfied with the decisions from their respective national courts”, says Justice Ben Kioko,  a Judge of the Court..

Mr Daniel Birungi from East African Law Society asked participants to assess and find ways of dealing with the challenges facing the Court on protection of human rights. He urged media practitioners to disseminate information and keep the public informed and aware of the scope of their access to justice.

 “The role of the African Court is essential in fighting impunity in Africa. I commend the engagement of the Court with Africa journalists who will in turn sensitize the public on ways, means, and procedures of the Court in order to guide African citizens and bodies who seek judicial redress through the Court, “Said Anna Burylo from the European Union Delegation to the African Union while closing the meeting.

Dominique Pekassa Ndam from Communication on Human Rights and Freedom (Cameroon) saib media is vital for socio-economic and political development. “Worldwide, media remains the most effective avenue for spreading human rights awareness and disseminating information. Thus, it is very important that the message is not only disseminated but disseminated accurately. This is even more so, when it relates to information emanating from a judicial body such as ours, which may have serious consequences on the lives of individuals, communities, and in some cases the nation as a whole,” she said.

The conference discussed institutional framework of African human rights system, highlighting its legal innovations and seeming weaknesses, which, on closer examination are actually strengths. Supported by European Union and German International Cooperation provided privileged opportunity to reflect on essential role media play in effective protection of human rights.