2010 Rules of Procedure of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights

Preliminary Provisions

• Rule 1 Objective
• Rule 2 Definitions

Part One General Rules

• Chapter I Status and Composition

• Rule 3 Status
• Rule 4 Composition

• Chapter II Membership

• Rule 5 Term of Office
• Rule 6 Order of Precedence
• Rule 7 Incompatibility
• Rule 8 Cessation of Function
• Rule 9 Solemn Declaration

• Chapter III Bureau of the Commission

• Rule 10 Composition of the Bureau
• Rule 11 Election of the Bureau
• Rule 12 Duration of the Term of the Members of the Bureau
• Rule 13 Powers and Functions of the Bureau
• Rule 14 Powers and Functions of the Chairperson
• Rule 15 Powers and Functions of the Vice-Chairperson
• Rule 16 Resignation, Vacancy and Replacement

• Chapter IV Secretariat to the Commission

• Rule 17 Composition, Structure and Status of the Secretariat
• Rule 18 Functions of the Secretary to the Commission
• Rule 19 Financial Responsibility
• Rule 20 Financial Rules
• Rule 21 Estimate
• Rule 22 Confidentiality of the Work of the Commission

• Chapter V Subsidiary Mechanisms

• Rule 23 Special Rapporteurs, Committees and Working Groups
• Rule 24 Applicable Rules for Subsidiary Mechanisms

• Chapter VI Sessions

• Rule 25 General Principles
• Rule 26 Ordinary Sessions
• Rule 27 Extraordinary Sessions
• Rule 28 Place of Meetings
• Rule 29 Notification of the Opening Date of the Sessions
• Rule 30 Quorum
• Rule 31 Private Sessions

• Chapter VII Agenda

• Rule 32 Provisional Agenda
• Rule 33 Transmission and Distribution of the Provisional Agenda
• Rule 34 Adoption of the Agenda
• Rule 35 Revision of the Agenda

• Chapter VIII Language

• Rule 36 Working Languages

• Chapter IX Records and Reports

• Rule 37 Records and Reports of Sessions
• Rule 38 Publication and Distribution of Session Reports

• Chapter X Conduct of Business

• Rule 39 Additional Powers of the Chairperson
• Rule 40 Points of Order
• Rule 41 Adjournment of Debates
• Rule 42 Time Limit Accorded to Speakers
• Rule 43 Closing the List of Speakers
• Rule 44 Closure of Debate
• Rule 45 Adjournment or Closure of Session
• Rule 46 Order of the Motions
• Rule 47 Submission of Motion and Amendment of Substance
• Rule 48 Withdrawal and Re-submission of a Motion
• Rule 49 Oral Interventions
• Rule 50 Right of Reply

• Chapter XI Voting

• Rule 51 Right to Vote
• Rule 52 Required Majority
• Rule 53 Method of Voting
• Rule 54 Explanation of Vote
• Rule 55 Rules to be Observed while Voting
• Rule 56 Elections

• Chapter XII Motions and Proposals

• Rule 57 Division of Proposals
• Rule 58 Order of Voting on Proposals

• Chapter XIII Reports of the Commission

• Rule 59 Activity Reports
• Rule 60 Mission Reports
• Rule 61 Distribution of Reports and other Official Documents

• Chapter XIV Relationships with State parties, intergovernmental institutions, national human rights institutions, non-governmental organisations and other partners

• Rule 62 General Principle
• Rule 64 Participation of States Parties
• Rule 65 Participation of specialised agencies, intergovernmental organisations and United Nations bodies
• Rule 66 Donors
• Rule 67 National Human Rights Institutions
• Rule 68 Non-governmental organisations

Part Two Promotion Activities

• Chapter I General Provisions

• Rule 69 Program of Promotion Activities
• Rule 70 Promotion Missions
• Rule 71 Other Promotion Activities
• Rule 72 Activity Reports of Commissioners

• Chapter II The State Reporting Procedure under Article 62 of the Charter

• Rule 73 Contents of State Reports
• Rule 74 Transmission of State Reports
• Rule 75 Consideration of Reports
• Rule 76 Non-submission of Reports
• Rule 77 Concluding Observations
• Rule 78 Follow-up of Implementation of Concluding Observations of State Reports

Part Three Protection Activities

• Chapter I Matters of Emergency

• Rule 79 Decision on Matters of Emergency
• Rule 80 Action on Matters of Emergency

• Chapter II Protection Missions

• Rule 81 General Provisions
• Rule 82 State Party's Obligations

• Chapter III Consideration of Communications

• Section 1 General Provision

• Rule 83 Records of Communications under Articles 47, 48, 49 and 55 of the Charter
• Rule 84 Situation of Serious or Massive Violation of Human Rights 1 cases

• Section 2 Consideration of Communications Received in Conformity with Article 47 of the Charter: Communications-Negotiations of States Parties

• Rule 85 Other Interventions
• Rule 86 Submission of a Communication

• Section 3 Consideration of Communications Received under Articles 48 & 49 of the Charter: Communications-Complaints of States Parties

• Rule 87 Seizure of the Commission
• Rule 88 Consideration of the Communication
• Rule 89 Decision on Admissibility
• Rule 90 Amicable Settlement
• Rule 91 Failure to Settle the Dispute Amicably
• Rule 92 Decision of the Commission

• Section 4 Consideration of Communications Received in Conformity with Article 55 of the African Charter: Other Communications

• Rule 93 Seizure of the Commission
• Rule 94 Representation
• Rule 95 Order of consideration of Communications
• Rule 96 Joinder and Disjoinder of Communications
• Rule 97 Working Groups and Rapporteurs on Communications
• Rule 98 Provisional Measures
• Rule 99 Procedure for Hearings on Communications 1 cases
• Rule 100 Witnesses and Experts
• Rule 101 Inability of a Member of the Commission to Take Part in the Examination of a Communication
• Rule 102 Withdrawal of a Member
• Rule 103 Preliminary Objection
• Rule 104 Legal Aid
• Rule 105 Submissions of Observations 1 cases
• Rule 106 Admissibility of Communications 1 cases
• Rule 107 Decision on Admissibility 2 cases

• Sub-Section 3 Procedure for the Consideration of Communications on the Merits

• Rule 108 Proceedings
• Rule 109 Amicable Settlement
• Rule 110 Decision on the Merits
• Rule 111 Review of the Decision of the Commission on the Merits
• Rule 112 Follow-up on the Recommendations of the Commission 2 cases
• Rule 113 Extension of Time

Part Four Relationships with the African Court

• Chapter I General Provisions

• Rule 114 Complementarity with the African Court
• Rule 115 Consultations with the Court
• Rule 116 Interpretation of the Charter by the Commission
• Rule 117 Advisory Opinion
• Rule 118 Seizure of the Court 1 cases
• Rule 119 Admissibility under Article 6 of the Protocol 2 cases
• Rule 120 Representation of the Commission before the Court
• Rule 121 Content of the Application and File to the Court
• Rule 122 Transmission of Communications to the Court and Notification of the Parties
• Rule 123 Lis Pendens

Part Five Relationship with Other African Union Organs, Institutions and Programmes

• Rule 124 General Rule
• Rule 125 Relationship with the Policy Organs of the African Union
• Rule 126 Cooperation with the African Union Commission

Part Six Final Provisions

• Rule 127 Interpretation
• Rule 128 Amendment of the Rules of Procedure
• Rule 129 Transitional Provisions
• Rule 130 Non-retroactivity
• Rule 131 Suspension
• Rule 132 Entry into Force of the Rules of Procedure