Africa and the Universality of Human Rights

Bertrand G. Ramcharan has previously carried out the functions of Director, Africa Division, UN Department of Political Affairs and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. He wrote the first draft of what the OAU (now the AU) subsequently adopted as the institutional parts of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

• ForewordPrefaceAbbreviations1 Introduction1.1 Introduction1.2 Corner Stones1.3 The Peace Architecture of the African Union1.4 Conclusion2 Africans Who Shaped Universality2.1 Introduction2.2 The Development of Universal Norms2.3 Self-Determination and the Quest for Justice2.4 Equality and Non-discrimination2.5 Universal Implementation of Human Rights2.6 Conclusion3 Africa, the United Nations and the Universality of Human Rights3.1 Introduction3.2 Obligations under International Law, the Charter and the Universal Declaration3.3 Universality as an Idea, a Goal, and a Normative Concept3.3.1 Universality as a Goal3.3.2 Universality as a Normative Concept3.4 The Bases of Universality3.4.1 African States’ Participation in UN Organs, such as the Human Rights Council and Its Universal Periodic Review3.4.2 Constitutional Dimension3.4.3 Legislative Dimension3.4.4 Judicial Dimension3.4.5 Institutional Dimension3.4.5.1 Monitoring Dimension3.4.6 Cooperation under UN Human Rights Treaties3.5 The Jurisprudence of the International Court of Justice Applicable to all Countries, Including in Africa3.5.1 Obligations Erga Omnes3.5.2 Jus Cogens3.5.3 Protection of the Right to Life3.5.4 Protection of the Environment3.5.5 The Legality of Nuclear weapons3.5.6 The Principle of the Non-use of Force3.5.7 Self-Determination3.5.8 Prevention of Genocide3.5.9 The Jurisprudence of UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies3.6 Conclusion4 The African Commission and Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights4.1 Introduction4.2 The African Human Rights Commission and the Universality of Human Rights4.2.1 Protection of the Right to Life: Noah Kazingachire, John Chitsenga, Elias Chemvura and Batanai Hadzisi v. Zimbabwe4.2.2 Freedom from Torture: Gabriel Shumba v. Zimbabwe4.2.3 The Right to Liberty and Freedom from Torture: Abdel Hadi, Ali Radi and Others v. Republic of Sudan4.2.4 The Right to a Fair Trial: Hargewoin Gabre-Selassie and ihrda (on Behalf of Former Derge Officials v. Ethiopia4.2.5 The Independence of the Judiciary: Tsatsu Tsikata v. Republic of Ghana4.2.6 The Right to Property: Dino Noca v. Democratic Republic of the Congo4.3 The African Human Rights Court and the Universality of Human Rights4.4 The African Protection Concept4.4.1 General Obligation of the State to Respect, Protect, Promote and Fulfil Rights4.4.2 The Principle of Subsidiarity and the Margin of Appreciation4.4.3 The Responsibility to Protect4.4.4 The Responsibility to Prevent4.4.5 The Right to a Clean Environment4.4.6 The Right to Development4.5 Conclusion5 The African Union5.1 Introduction5.2 African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance5.2.1 Democracy, Rule of Law and Human Rights5.2.2 A Culture of Democracy and Peace5.2.3 Democratic Institutions5.2.4 Democratic Elections5.2.5 Political, Economic and Social Governance5.2.6 Enforcement5.2.7 Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union5.2.8 Preventive Diplomacy5.4 Conclusion6 Sub-regional Institutions and Courts6.1 Introduction6.2 ecowas Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance (2001)6.3 ecowas and East African Community Courts of Justice6.3.1 ecowas Community Court of Justice6.3.2 East African Community and the East African Court of Justice6.4 igad: Democracy, Governance, Elections, Early Warning6.5 sadc: Southern African Development Community and eccas: Economic Community of Central African States6.5.1 sadc Tribunal6.5.2 eccas: Economic Community of Central African States6.5.3 eccas: Economic Community of Central African States6.6 Conclusion7 National Human Rights Institutions and Courts7.1 Introduction7.2 African National Human Rights Institutions (anhri s)7.3 South African Constitutional Court7.3.1 Supreme Court of Kenya7.3.2 Constitutional Court of Malawi7.4 Conclusion8 Civil Society8.1 Introduction8.2 Kampala Declaration of Human Rights Defenders (2009); Kampala Plan of Action for Human Rights Defenders (2019)8.3 Harare Declaration of Human Rights 19898.4 Civil Society8.4.1 The Elders’ Global Commission on Elections, Democracy and Security8.4.2 Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa8.5 Publicists8.5.1 An Akan Perspective on Human Rights8.5.2 The Akan Conception of a Person8.5.3 The Akan Political System8.5.4 Rights of Political Participation8.5.5 The Right to a Fair Trial8.5.6 The Right to Land8.5.7 Religious Freedom8.5.8 African Ubuntu on Human Rights8.6 Conclusion9 Conclusion9.1 Introduction9.2 Grand Bay Declaration9.3 Algiers Declaration9.4 ConclusionAnnex i: African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Banjul Charter, 1981)Annex ii: Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in AfricaAnnex iii: African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the ChildAnnex iv: Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Establishment of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, 1998Annex v: au, African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (2007)Annex vi: ecowas Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance (2001)Annex vii: oau Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in AfricaAnnex viii: UN Human Rights Committee General Comment [No. 29] on Article 4 of the iccpr: States of EmergencyBibliographyIndex