The African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights

Rachel Murray is Professor of International Human Rights Law at the University of Bristol and Director of its Human Rights Implementation Centre. Rachel undertakes regular work on the African human rights system, implementation of human rights law, OPCAT and torture prevention, among other areas. She has written widely in this area (e.g. Implementation of the Findings of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, with Debbie Long, Cambridge University Press, 2015; The Optional Protocol to the UN Convention Against Torture, OUP, with Steinerte, Evans and Hallo de Wolf), and articles in leading legal human rights journals. She also advises national, regional and international organisations as well as governments and individuals on human rights law. She is on the board of the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa, and is a Fellow of the Human Rights Centre at the University of Essex and a member of Doughty Street Chambers. She is also a magistrate.

• Part I: Context and Substantive Rights1: Introduction: towards the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights2: Preamble3: Article 1: Obligations of Member States4: Article 2: Freedom from Discrimination5: Article 3: Right to Equality before the law and equal protection of the law6: Article 4: Right to life7: Article 5: Prohibition of torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment8: Article 6: Right to personal liberty and protection from arbitrary arrest9: Article 7: Right to a fair trial10: Article 8: Right to freedom of conscience11: Article 9: Right to receive information and free expression12: Article 10: Right to freedom of association13: Article 11: Right to freedom of assembly14: Article 12: Right to freedom of movement15: Article 13: Right to participate in government16: Article 14: Right to property17: Article 15: Right to work18: Article 16: Right to health19: Article 17: Right to education20: Article 18: Protection of the Family and vulnerable groups21: Article 19: Right of all peoples to equality and rights22: Article 20: Right to self-determination23: Article 21: Right to free disposal of wealth and natural resources24: Article 22: Right economic, social and cultural development25: Article 23: Right to national and international peace and security26: Article 24: Right to a general satisfactory environment27: Article 25: Duty to promote human rights28: Article 26: Duty to guarantee the independence of the courts29: Article 27 - 29: DutiesPart II: The Establishment of the African Commission30: Articles 30-40: Establishment and appointment of the African Commission31: Articles 41 - 44: Organisation of the African CommissionPart III: Mandate and Procedure of the African Commission32: Articles 45 and 46: Mandate of the Commission33: Articles 47-53: Communications from States34: Articles 55: Other communications35: Articles 56 and 5736: Article 58: Serious or massive violations37: Article 59: Confidentiality and ReportingPart IV: Applicable Principles and other procedures38: Articles 60 and 61: Applicable principles39: Article 62: State reportingPart V: General Provisions40: Articles 63-65: Signature, ratification, adherence and coming into force41: Article 66: Protocols: Protocol on the African Court42: Article 66: Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa43: Articles 67-6844: Conclusion and future trendsAppendicesAfrican Charter on Human and Peoples' RightsProtocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples' RightsProtocol on the Rights of Women in Africa