if any.
Part Three Protection Activities
Chapter I Matters of Emergency
Rule 79 Decision on Matters of Emergency
1. The Commission shall treat a situation as a matter of emergency under Article 58(3) of the African
Charter, when:
a) it is one of serious or massive human rights violations;
b) it presents the danger of irreparable harm or requires urgent action to avoid irreparable damage;
2. When a situation of emergency arises during a session of the Commission, the decision to treat it as
such shall be taken by the Commission.
3. When a situation arises during the Commission's inter-session period, the decision to treat it as a matter
of emergency shall be taken by the Bureau of the Commission, which shall keep other members of the
Commission informed and present a report on the situation at the next session of the Commission.
Rule 80 Action on Matters of Emergency
1. When the Commission has decided to treat a situation as one of emergency, it shall:
a) Draw the attention of the Chairperson of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African
Union to the matter in accordance with Article 58(3) of the Charter;
b) Draw the attention of the Peace and Security Council to the matter in accordance with Article 19 of the
Protocol on Peace and Security Council;
c) Inform the Executive Council;
d) Inform the Chairperson of the African Union Commission of the matter.
2. The Commission as well as its subsidiary mechanisms under the Charter and present Rules, shall also
take any appropriate action, including Urgent Appeals.
Chapter II Protection Missions
Rule 81 General Provisions
1. If it deems it necessary and advisable, the Commission may carry out a protection mission to a State
Party.
2. States Parties shall provide the Commission with an open invitation for protection missions and respond
promptly to any request by the Commission for authorisation to undertake a protection mission.
3. Any protection mission agreed upon between the Commission and a State Party shall be conducted in
accordance with the Commission's Guidelines for Missions.
4. The expenses incurred by a mission undertaken at the request of any AU organ shall be borne by such
organ.
Rule 82 State Party's Obligations During a protection mission of the Commission the State Party concerned
shall:
a) Commit itself not to take any kind of reprisal against any persons or entities who provide the mission with
information, testimony or evidence;
b) Guarantee the free movement of the members of the mission throughout the territory of the country, in
this regard, provide corresponding facilities, including any necessary internal authorisation;
c) Provide the mission of the Commission with any document that the latter may consider necessary for the
preparation of its reports;
d) Take necessary security measures to protect members of the delegation and also to guarantee the
smooth running of the mission.
Chapter III Consideration of Communications
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