60.
The Court will not belabor this agreed point save to reiterate that while
legal persons can sue for the violation of their human rights, limitations
are imposed on the category of human rights in respect of which such legal
persons can bring an action. In addressing this limitation the Court held,
“The established exceptions under which corporate bodies can ground an
action are rights that are fundamental rights not dependent on human
rights and they include right to fair hearing, right to property and right to
freedom of expression.” DEXTER OIL LIMITED V REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA
(ECW/CCJ/JUD/03/19), PAGE 21.
61. It is established from the pleadings before the Court that the Applicants
are legal persons as they are described as La Ligue Senegalaise Des Droits
Humains (Senegalese League of Human Rights), an association registered
under Senegalese law, and Amnesty International Section Senegal, a nongovernmental organization also resident in Senegal. Nevertheless, for
their Application to be admitted, the Applicants must establish that they
fall within the recognised exceptions to cloth them with capacity to bring
this action.
62. The Applicants’ allegation is premised on the violation of their right to
assembly, free movement and freedom of expression all contrary to
Articles 11, 12 and 9 of the Charter respectively. From the established
exceptions earlier provided, it is obvious that the only action that the
Applicants can maintain for themselves is the right of freedom of
expression.
63. This reasoning is confirmed by the Court when it held that it has “made it
abundantly clear that non- natural persons can enjoy freedom of
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