iii. The right to have their cause heard guaranteed in Article 7 of the Charter; iv. The right to respect for their dignity and the prohibition of all forms of degrading treatment guaranteed in Article 5 of the Charter; v. The right of all citizens to equality before the law as guaranteed in Article 3 of the Charter; and vi. The right to enjoy the rights and freedoms recognized and guaranteed in the Charter without distinction of any kind, which is protected under Article 2 of the Charter. III. SUMMARY OF THE PROCEDURE BEFORE THE COURT 9. The Application was received at the Registry on 15 May 2020 and served on the Respondent State on 30 June 2020. 10. On 29 September 2021, the Court informed the Respondent State that the Court would render a judgment in default if it failed to file its response to the Application within forty-five (45) days. 11. By correspondence dated 26 October 2021, the Respondent State informed the Registry that it never received the Application and requested that the same be served on it. 12. On 1 April 2022, the Court issued an order for the Application to be served on the Respondent State afresh, which was done on 8 April 2022. 13. On 22 July 2022, the Respondent State filed its Response, which was notified to the Applicants on 27 July 2022 for their reply. 14. Pleadings were closed on 4 May 2023 and the Parties were duly informed. 4