ACHPR • African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights Human Rights our Collective Responsibility Article 56(4) 54.Article 56(4) of the African Charter provides that communications should not be 'based exclusively on news disseminated through the mass media. ' In interpreting this provision, the Commission has acknowledged the importance of mass media as a source of information and reiterated that the issue of concern is whether the information obtained from the med ia is correct and the veracity of the allegations from it. 29 The Complainant produced court documents as evidence and has not relied exclusively on news disseminated through the mass media. Thus, this communication satisfies the provisions of Article 56( 4) of the African Charter. Article 56(5) 55 . Concerning the exhaustion of domestic remedies, Article 56(5) of the African Charter provides that communications may only be admitted after 'exhaustion of local remedies if they exist unless it is obvious that this procedure is unduly prolonged.' 56 . The rationale behind Article 56(5) of the African Charter is to give state parties the first responsibility to resolve allegations of human rights violations using their domestic remedies and within their domestic legal system. 30 This is informed by the principle of the subsidiarity of the international adjudicatory system. 31 The settled jurisprudence of the Commission shows that this is one of the most important conditions for the admissibility of communications.32 57 . The Commission has further established that these domestic remedies must be available, in that they can be used by the Complainant without impediment; 29 Communication 147 /95-149/96: Sir Dawda K. Jawara v Gambia (The), 11 May 2000, para 26. °Communication 292/ 04 - Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa/ Angola (2008) ACHPR 3 para. 38. Guide to the African Hum an Rights System available at ht www.clu·.u .ac.za ima es ublications 2021 Guide to the African 21.pdf 32 Communication 147/95 and 149 /96 - Sir Dawda K Jawara v. Gambia (2000) A 31 1-1 HUMAN f u ct 4•· ,i-it ES

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