Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 05/2009

Africa's New Human Rights Court: Whistling in the Wind?

Sonya Sceats

March 2009

Chatham House

Abstract

Human rights abuses on a massive scale continue to afflict the lives of millions of people across the continent of Africa. As in other parts of the world, the obstacles in pursuing justice are currently insurmountable for most victims. Against this troubling backdrop, the African Union (AU) has decided to add a human rights section to its new court which has been agreed upon but not yet set up. This court is called the African Court of Justice and Human Rights.