Something Kenya SHOULD emulate (Rwanda Setting the Human Rights Pace)

Addressing one of the greatest challenges of access to the Court, Rwanda recently pledged a declaration, known as the Banjul Commission, and individuals, as it is required under Article 5 (3) and Article 34 (6) of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Article 34(6) of the Protocol restricts access to the Court by NGOs and Individuals as allowed in Article 5 (3) to only those state parties that have made the declaration.

Rwanda has with this declaration authorized individuals and NGOs to directly take their petitions involving Rwanda before the Court in Arusha, subject to the reservation that all local remedies would have been exhausted before the competent organs and jurisdictions of the Republic of Rwanda.

It is high time that member states followed suit by leading and supporting the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms from the front!

My take _

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A Human Rights Defender's Perspective

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