A Human Rights Defender's Perspective

I n regional news, The East African Court of Justice (EACJ) can now handle crimes of international proportion such as genocide, crimes against humanity, terrorism and war crimes following endorsement by East African Community Heads of State. The extension of the Court's mandate was made during the EAC Heads of State Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, last week, that was held under the theme, " Deepening and accelerating integration: Towards Political Federation ." The EACJ is the judicial body of the East African Community (EAC). The Court has jurisdiction over the interpretation and application of the East African Treaty of 1999. The Court   does not have competence to hear individual complaints of alleged violations of human rights law.   The Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community sets out in  Article 27 that, “The Court shall have such other original, appellate,  human rights  and other jurisdiction as will be determined by the Council at a suitabl