1988 Rules of Procedure of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights

Part One: General Provisions – Organisation of the Commission

• Chapter I: Sessions

• Rule 1: Number of Sessions
• Rule 2: Opening Date
• Rule 3: Extra-ordinary Sessions
• Rule 4: Place of Meetings
• Rule 5: Notification of the Opening Date of the Sessions

• Chapter II: Agenda

• Rule 6: Drawing up the Provisional Agenda
• Rule 7: Transmission and Distribution of the Provisional Agenda
• Rule 8: Adoption of the Agenda
• Rule 9: Revision of the Agenda
• Rule 10: Draft Provisional Agenda for the Next Session

• Chapter III: Members of the Commission

• Rule 11: Composition of the Commission
• Rule 12: Status of the Member
• Rule 13: Time of Office of the Members
• Rule 14: Cessation of Functions
• Rule 15: Vacant Seat
• Rule 16: Oath

• Chapter IV: Officers

• Rule 17: Election of Officers
• Rule 18: Powers of the Chairman
• Rule 19: Absence of the Chairman
• Rule 20: Functions of the Vice-Chairman
• Rule 21: Cessation of the Functions of an Officer

• Chapter V: Secretariat

• Rule 22: Functions of the Secretary-General
• Rule 23: Estimates
• Rule 24: Financial Rules
• Rule 25: Powers of the Secretary of the Commission
• Rule 26: Records of Cases
• Rule 27: Financial Responsibility

• Chapter VI: Subsidiary Bodies

• Rule 28: Establishment of Committees and Working Groups
• Rule 29: Establishment of Sub-Commissions
• Rule 30: Officers of the Subsidiary Bodies
• Rule 31: Rules of Procedure

• Chapter VII: Public Sessions and Private Sessions

• Rule 32: General Principle
• Rule 33: Publication of Proceedings

• Chapter VIII: Languages

• Rule 34: Working Languages
• Rule 35: Interpretation
• Rule 36: Languages to be Used for the Minutes of Proceedings
• Rule 37: Languages to the Used Resolutions and other Officials Decisions

• Chapter IX: Minutes and Reports

• Rule 38: Tape Recordings of the Sessions
• Rule 39: Summary Minutes of the Sessions
• Rule 40: Distribution of the Minutes of the Private Sessions and Public Sessions
• Rule 41: Reports to be Submitted after each Session
• Rule 42: Submission of Official Decisions and Reports

• Chapter X: Conduct of the Debates

• Rule 43: Quorum
• Rule 44: General Powers of the Chairman
• Rule 45: Points of Order
• Rule 46: Adjournment of Debates
• Rule 47: Limit of the Time Accorded to Speakers
• Rule 48: Closing of the List of Speakers
• Rule 49: Closure of Debates
• Rule 50: Suspension or Adjournment of the Meeting
• Rule 51: Order of the Motions
• Rule 52: Submission of Proposals and Amendments of Substance
• Rule 53: Decisions on Competence
• Rule 54: Withdrawal of a Proposal or a Motion
• Rule 55: New Consideration of Proposals
• Rule 56: Interventions
• Rule 57: Right of Reply
• Rule 58: Congratulations
• Rule 59: Condolences

• Chapter XI: Vote and Elections

• Rule 60: Right to Vote
• Rule 61: Asking for a Vote
• Rule 62: Required Majority
• Rule 63: Method of Voting
• Rule 64: Explanation of Vote
• Rule 65: Rules to be Observed while Voting
• Rule 66: Division of Proposals and Amendments
• Rule 67: Amendment
• Rule 68: Order of Vote on Amendments
• Rule 69: Order of Vote on the Proposals
• Rule 70: Elections
• Rule 71: Majority Required to Be Elected

• Chapter XII: Participation of Non-Members of the Commission

• Rule 72: Participation of States in the Deliberations
• Rule 73: Participation of National Liberation Movements
• Rule 74: Participation of Specialised Institutions and Consultations with the Latter
• Rule 75: Participation of other Inter-Governmental Organisations

• Chapter XIII: Consultations with Non-governmental Organisations and Representation of these Organisations

• Rule 76: Representation
• Rule 77: Consultation

• Chapter XIV: Publication and Distribution of the Reports and other Official Documents of the Commission

• Rule 78: Report of the Commission
• Rule 79: Periodical Reports of Member States
• Rule 80: Reports on the Activities of the Commission

Part Two: Provisions Relating to the Functions of the Commission

• Chapter XV: Promotional Activities

• Reports Submitted by State Parties to the Charter under 62 of the Charter

• Rule 81: Contents of Reports
• Rule 82: Transmission of the Reports
• Rule 83: Submission of Reports
• Rule 84: Non-submission of Reports
• Rule 85: Examination of Information Contained in Reports
• Rule 86: Adjournment and Transmission of the Reports

• Chapter XVI: Protection Activities – Communications from State Parties to the Charter

• Section 1: Procedure for the Consideration of Communications Received in Conformity with 47 of the Charter: “Procedure for Communications-Negotiations”

• Rule 87: Purpose of the Procedure
• Rule 88: Register of Communications
• Rule 89: Reply and Time Limit
• Rule 90: Non-settlement of the Issue
• Rule 91: Seisin of the Commission

• Section II: Procedure for the Consideration of the Communications Received in Conformity with Articles 48 and 49 of the Charter – “Procedure for Communication-Complaint”

• Rule 92: Seisin of the Commission
• Rule 93: Permanent Register of Communications
• Rule 94: Seisin of the Members of the Commission
• Rule 95: Private Session and Press Releases
• Rule 96: Consideration of the Communication
• Rule 97: Amicable Settlement 1 cases
• Rule 98: Additional information
• Rule 99: Representation of State parties to the Charter
• Rule 100: Report of the Commission

• Chapter XVII: Other Communications – Procedure for the Consideration of the Communications Received in Conformity with 55 of the Charter

• Section I: Transmission of Communications to the Commission

• Rule 101: Session of the Commission 22 cases
• Rule 102: List of Communications
• Rule 103: Request for Clarifications 2 cases
• Rule 104: Distribution of Communications 1 cases

• Section II: General Provisions Governing the Considerations of the Communications by the Commission or its Subsidiary Bodies

• Rule 105: Private Session
• Rule 106: Press Releases
• Rule 107: Incompatibilities
• Rule 108: Withdrawal of a Member
• Rule 109: Provisional Measures 3 cases
• Rule 110: Information to the State Party to the Charter 4 cases

• Section III: Procedures to Determine Admissibility

• Rule 111: Time Limits for Consideration of the Admissibility
• Rule 112: Order of the Consideration of the Communications
• Rule 113: Working Groups
• Rule 114: Admissibility of the Communications 9 cases
• Rule 115: Additional Information 5 cases
• Rule 116: Decision of the Commission on Admissibility

• Section IV: Procedures for the Consideration of Communications

• Rule 117: Proceedings 3 cases
• Rule 118: Final Decision of the Commission

• Final Chapter: Amendment and Suspension of the Rules of Procedure

• Rule 119: Method of Amendment
• Rule 120: Method of Suspension