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African Commission on
Human and Peoples' Rights
Human Rights our
Collective Responsibility
in line with Rule 101 of the Commission's Rules of Procedure which the Commission
observes rigorously in practice at all times. The Rule provides that "a member of
the Commission shall not be present and take part in the consideration of a
Communication if he or she: (a) is a national of the State Party concerned; (b) has
a personal interest in the case; . . . (d) has participated in any capacity in any
decision at the national level in relation to the Communication."
66. Regarding admissibility of the Communication, it is trite that the conditions under
Article 56 of the Charter are cumulative and must all be satisfied for a
Communication to be declared admissible. Consequently if one of the conditions
is not met, the Communication will be declared inadmissible entirely or in the
respects that it does not satisfy a given condition or condition(s). 2 In this regard,
the Commission examines the admissibility of a Communication in respect of each
condition based on the available information.
67. In the present Communication the Commission notes that the Complainant has
clearly identified himself as the author acting in person which is in compliance
with Article 56(1) of the Charter. Secondly, the Complaint relates to and raises
prima facie violations of the rights. under, and against a State Party to, the Charter.
The violations occurred within the jurisdiction of, and after the Charter had
entered into force quoad the Respondent State. Article 56(2) of the Charter is
accordingly satisfied in these respects.
68. With respect to Article 56(3) of the Charter, it provides that "Communications
relating to human and peoples' rights referred to in 55 received by the Commission, shall
be considered if they. . . are not w
· ritten in disparaging or insulting language directed
against the State concerned and its institutions or to the Organization of African Unity. "
The Commission has in its jurisprudence clearly settled what constitutes
"disparaging or insulting language directed against the State concerned and its
institutions or to the Organization of African UnihJ, "In Communication 268/03 Ilesanmi v Nigeria, the Cormnission defined disparaging or insulting language to
mean "to speak slightingly of .. or to belittle and insulting means to abuse scornfully or to
offend the self-respect or modeshJ of .. ". The Commission also stated that "The language
must be aimed at undermining the integrihJ and status of the institution and bring it into
2 Communication 304/05 - FJOH and others v Senegal (2006) ACI-IPR para 38; Communication 3
Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) v Nigeria (2010) ACHPR para 43; and Communica
Zimbabwe Law11ers for Human Rights & Associated Newspapers ofZimbabwe v Zimbabwe (2009) ACHPR
Communication 299/05 - Anuak [ustice Council v Ethiopiq (2006) ACI- IPR para. 44.
Page 14 of 45
African Commission on Human and Peo
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Phone: (220) 230 4361 Fax: (22
Email: au-banjul@ africa-u
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