Section 1 General Provision
Rule 83 Records of Communications under Articles 47, 48, 49 and 55 of the Charter
1. The Commission shall receive or note as the case may be, Communications or notifications under
Articles 47, 48, 49 and 55 of the Charter.
2. The Secretary shall maintain a record of each Communication, with a reference number, the names of
the parties, the date of registration or notification, and the date of decision or closure of each
Communication.
Rule 84 Situation of Serious or Massive Violation of Human Rights
1. When the Commission considers that one or more Communications relate to a series of serious or
massive human rights violations, it shall bring the matter to the attention of the Assembly of Heads of State
and Government of the African Union and the Peace and Security Council of the African Union.
2. The Commission may also, in conformity with Article 5 of the African Court Protocol and Rule 118(3) of
the present Rules of Procedure, refer the matter to the African Court.
Section 2 Consideration of Communications Received in Conformity with Article 47 of the Charter:
Communications-Negotiations of States Parties
Rule 85 Other Interventions
The Commission may decide to solicit or accept interventions by parties other than the Complainant and
the Respondent State that it considers could provide it with information relevant to making a decision on a
Communication.
Rule 86 Submission of a Communication
1. A Communication under Article 47 of the Charter shall be submitted to the Chairperson, through the
Secretary of the Commission.
2. The Communication referred to above shall be in writing and shall contain a comprehensive statement of
the facts as well as the provisions of the African Charter alleged to have been violated.
3. Notification of the Communication to the State Party concerned, the Chairperson of the African Union
Commission and the Chairperson of the Commission shall be done through the most practical and reliable
means.
4. The Secretary to the Commission shall, on behalf of the Chairperson, acknowledge receipt, by Note
Verbale, receipt of the Communication and request the parties to keep the Commission informed of
developments which could arise within the framework of ongoing negotiations.
Section 3 Consideration of Communications Received under Articles 48& 49 of the Charter: Communications-Complaints
of States Parties
Rule 87 Seizure of the Commission
1. Any Communication under Articles 48 and 49 of the Charter may be submitted to the Chairperson of
the Commission through the Secretary by an interested State Party.
2. The Communication shall contain information on the following or be accompanied particularly by:
a) Measures taken to resolve the issue pursuant to Article 47 of the African Charter including the text of the
initial communication and any subsequent written explanation from the interested States Parties relating to
the issue;
b) Measures taken to exhaust regional or international procedures of settlement or good offices;
c) Any other procedure of international investigation or international settlement to which the interested
States Parties have resorted.
Rule 88 Consideration of the Communication
1. Where, pursuant to Articles 48 and 49 of the African Charter, a Communication is brought before the
Commission by a State Party, the Chairperson of the Commission, through the Secretary, shall give notice
of such Communication to the State Party against which the complaint is made and shall invite it to submit
to the Commission its observations in writing on the admissibility of the Communication within ninety (90)
days. The observations so obtained in writing shall be immediately communicated to the complaining State
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