there has been no submission to this effect, the Commission finds that the right
to property had been violated and thus finds the State in violation of Article 14.
Analysis of Article 16
240.
Article 16 of the Charter provides that every individual has the right to enjoy
the best attainable state of physical and mental health, and that there is a duty
on the State to protect the health of people and ensure that they receive medical
attention when they are sick.
241.
The Commission in its Guidelines and Principles on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights in the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights
determines that individuals have the right “to be free from unwarranted
interference [with their health], including […] inhuman and degrading
treatment”.69 Further, in General Comment No.14 on the right to health, the
UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights provides that: “[...] the
right to health imposes three types of obligations on States – to respect, fulfil
and protect the right.” In the Interrights v Egypt case,70 the Commission held
that because the Victims had been submitted to acts which resulted in physical
and emotional injury, which has detrimentally affected their physical and
mental well-being, there is a violation of Article 16 (1).
242.
In relation to the duty to respect and protect, the Commission had already
found above that the treatment of the protesters resulted in inhuman and
degrading treatment. The Commission in addition found above that the State
was responsible for the injuries suffered as a result of the removal. The
Complainants argue that the right to health can be violated though direct
action by the State or others insufficiently regulated by the State which cause
positive harm to health. While the Commission considers the police to be part
of the State, it finds that the State can be directly held accountable for actions
of the police, nevertheless, based on the duty to protect, the State would also
have a duty to ensure that third parties do not interfere with the enjoyment of
the right to health. Based on the above, the Commission finds that the right to
Guidelines and Principles on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the African Charter on Human
and Peoples' Rights, para 65.
70 Communication 323/06: Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights and INTERIGHTS v Egypt.
69
68