134. To further support his argument, the Complainant refers to the African
Commission's Principles and Guidelines on the Implementation of Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights in the African Charter on Human and Peoples'
Rights. He contends that the document introduces the concept of minimum core
obligations which are non-derogable and exist regardless of available resources.
The Complainant refers the Commission to its findings in: Media Rights Agenda
and Others v Nigeria, 54 International Pen and Others (on behalf of Saro-Wiwa) v
Nigeria 55 and Malawi African Association and Others v Mauritania,56 wherein the
Commission found that conducts endangering a prisoner's health amounts to a
violation of Article 16 of the African Charter. Accordingly, the Complainant
submits that the Respondent State must be held to the same standards.
Alleged violation of Article 1 of the African Charter
135. Article 1 of the African Charter provides that State Parties shall recognise the
rights, duties and freedoms enshrined therein and shall undertake to adopt
legislative and other measures to give effect to them. The Complainant refers to
Sudan Human Rights Organization & Centre on Housing Rights nnd Evictions
(COHRE) v Sudan wherein the African Commission held that a rights violation
implies a violation of Article 1, insofar as the Respondent State failed to prevent
the violation.57
136. The Complainant alleges that the National Security Act created the
circumstances that allowed the NISS and State security apparatus to abuse the
Complainant. He therefore submits that the Respondent State's failure to
prevent the violations of the provisions of the African Charter, and its reliance
on vague provisions of the National Security Act and Emergency Law to justify
the abuse constitutes a violation of Article 1 of the African Charter.
137.In support of these allegations, the Complainant has submitted three
documents as exhibits. They include: documentation of counselling therapy
sessions undertaken and two witness statement of the facts alleged.
Commission's Analysis on the Merits
138. As indicated above, the Respondent State failed to submit its observation on
the merits, despite the opportunity accorded it in accordance with Rule 113 (2)
Media Rights Agenda, Constitutional Rights Project,
Media Rights Agenda and Constitutional Rights Project v Nigeria.
55 Communication 137/94-139/94--154/96-161/97 - Intemati
~~~[h ·onal Rights Project, Civil
Liberties Organisation and Interights (on behalfof Ken Saro- •
56Com munication 54/91-61/91-98/93-164/97-196/97-21
..-~
6 ociation and Others
v. Mauritania.
1I"''
57 Conmmnication 279/03-296/05 - Sudan Human Rights
11 Hbusing Rights and
Evictions (COHRE) v Sudan para 227.
:
54 Communication 105/93-128/94--130/ 94-152/96 -
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