itself and
inconsistent with the African Charter on Human
and
Peoples’
Rights (the
Charter). It also violates the fundamental right of the Peoples’ of Africa to ventilate their
grievances in a Court established for that purpose.
Member States must not only create institutions for the protection of human rights but
they
must
ensure
that the
instruments
used
by the
institutions
meet
international
standards and do not derogate from the protective mandate, enshrined for the Peoples
of Africa in the Charter.
They
cannot and should
not be allowed
to abandon
their
responsibility and to approbate and reprobate. And where they have purported to do so,
the African Union, the body they have established to facilitate their collective will and
action,
can
and
should
be amenable
to being
held
liable for such
failure and
or
abandonment.
The right of access to justice is a peremptory norm- jus cogens.
This right is in the
African Charter and other International Human Rights instruments to which State parties
are signatories. The instruments have been properly stated by the Applicant at page 11
of his rejoinder on June 6, 2012. See
i.Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights
ii.Article 8 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
ili. Article 2(3) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and;
iv.Article 10(3) of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance