By Catherine Ageno
In a move meant to ease administration of justice, the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR) has embarked on training of lawyers registered to represent indigent Applicants.
According to the president of the Court Hon. Justice Sylvain Ore, the training that kicks off this morning in Arusha, Tanzania is aimed at familiarizing lawyers with the Court’s Judicial and operational aspects.
He says the three –day training will also update the group of forty lawyers on the legal aid scheme.
He adds that at the end of the training the lawyers will have been equipped with skills to represent indigent applicants effectively.
Currently 61 counsels from 25 countries including Uganda have registered with the court to represent indigent Applicants.
The other countries are: Algeria, Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, DR Congo,Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Italy, Kenya, Leberia, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, United Kingdom, United States, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The African Court on Humnan and Peoples’ Rights, estabblished by the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, has been in operation since 2006.
It was established to complement the protective mandate of the African Commission on Humnan and People’s Rights, by making binding decisions on human rights complaints filed before it.
The Protocol has so far been ratified by 30 AU Member States while State Parties have deposited the declaration under Article 34(6), allowing individuals and NGOs to file complaints before the African Court.
