Project Description

This project engages with the emerging jurisprudence of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which was established in terms of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. It is the most recently established of the three regional human rights courts (the others being the European Court of Human Rights and the InterAmerican Court of Human Rights) and at this stage the least studied. The African Court came into existence in 2006, and its first judgment was handed down in 2009. Its seat is in Arusha, Tanzania. The Court’s protocol has been ratified by 34 states, but only twelve countries permit individuals and non-governmental organisations to launch proceedings in the Court. Most of the cases that have reached the court have been brought by individuals and non-governmental organisations.

Catherine O’Regan and D.Phil. student Sfiso Benard Nxumalo contribute annual chapters analysing the jurisprudence of the African Court to the Global Community Yearbook of International Law and Jurisprudence, published by Oxford University Press, and edited by Giuliana Ziccardi Capaldo. 

In addition, the Bonavero Institute sends a graduate student to work at the African Court each year as a researcher in judges’ chambers.