By Catherine Ageno
Two new judges of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights are to be sworn in today at the commencement of the 44th Ordinary Session in Arusha, Tanzania.
Justice Bensaoula Chafika from Algeria and Justice Chizumila Rose Tujilane from Malawi were elected in January during the 28th Assembly of the African Union heads of state and government
This brings to five the number of female judges sitting on the 11-member Court, the first time in its history.
Among the female Judges already at the Court is Uganda’s Hon.Lady Justice Solomy Balungi Bossa who was elected in June 2014.
The others are Hon. Lady-Justice Ntyam Ondo Mengue from Cameroon and Hon. Lady-Justice Marie Thérése Mukamulisa from Rwanda who were elected to the Court during the 27th AU Summit in October, Kigali, Rwa
The increased number of female Judges is the fulfilment of the requirement for adequate gender representation provided for in Article 12(2) and Article 14(3) of the Protocol establishing the court.
The session that runs March 24, will also see judges examine about 80 applications and for Requests for Advisory Opinion.
The Court’s Judges, all nationals of African Union Member States are elected in their individual capacity for a term of six-years and renewable once.