The year 2016 was declared by the African Union as the African ‘Year of Human Rights with Particular Focus on the Rights of Women’ to commemorate and celebrate significant milestones in the realisation of human rights on the African continent. The year marks the 35th anniversary of the adoption of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Charter), 30th year since coming into force of the African Charter and 10 years since the inauguration of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Since its adoption, the African Charter has been supplemented by the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol). All AU member states (with the exception of new comer South Sudan) are state parties to the African Charter, and 36 of them have accepted the Maputo Protocol. This book assesses the impact and effectiveness of the African Charter and the Maputo Protocol in 17 African countries, namely Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe. The book is the result of research conducted by selected alumni of the Centre for Human Rights’ LLM in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa programme.

This book assesses the impact and effectiveness of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol) in 16 state parties. These countries are: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Eswatini, the Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. Each of the chapters traces the impact that the Protocol has had on the policies, laws, court decisions, civil society activism, and legal education in the particular state. Each chapter also discusses the relationship of the state with the African human rights mechanisms. The book is an update of two prior volumes of essays, titled The impact of the African Charter and the Maputo Protocol in selected African states, published by PULP in 2012 and 2016, and edited by the Centre for Human Rights, Universityof Pretoria (Centre) and Victor Ayeni, respectively. The third edition, focused more narrowly on the Maputo Protocol, appears as the continent marks 20 years since the adoption of the Protocol on 11 July 2003. By 11 July 2023, 54 out of 55 African Union member states (with the exception of Morocco) have become party to the African Charter, and 44 of them have accepted the Maputo Protocol. The book is edited by and contains several chapters by alumni of the Master’s in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa programme of the Centre. The Centre intends to use this research as the basis for a continuously updated database on the impact of the African Charter and Maputo Protocol.

- Statute of the ICTR.

This book examines violence against women in Africa and criminal justice from the perspective of African scholars, practitioners and experts. As a global and long-standing issue, violence against women is gaining public visibility across the African continent with some states announcing a national crisis warranting immediate redress. At the global level, the elimination of all forms of violence against all women and girls forms a key part of United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender Equality. Split across two volumes, these books present a comprehensive analysis of the latest research and theories, principles and practices of criminal justice systems, criminal justice accountability mechanisms, and the key challenges women face in their quest for justice on the African continent. This volume (II) focusses on sexual violence and vulnerable women’s access to justice in Africa. Volume I focusses on legislation and its impact, the limitations of criminal justice responses, and the cultural and social norms regarding access to justice. Together, they adopt a comparative approach that highlight gaps and good practices to provide a rich source of authoritative information for promoting an intra-African dialogue and cross-fertilization of ideas across the different criminal justice traditions in Africa. Both volumes seek to advance discussions on eliminating violence against women in Africa and speak to those interested in criminal justice, violence, gender studies and African legal studies.

This collection of essays in honour of Frans Viljoen shines a light on the increasingly important place of compliance in international law. With essays from leading scholars in the field of international human rights law, this festschrift provides compelling analysis of the nature of compliance in the African human rights context, the challenges that affect its place in these legal systems, and the ways in which increased compliance can be achieved. The volume is divided into three parts exploring: theoretical perspectives, thematic perspectives, and institutional perspectives. Each in turn helps to build a picture of theory and practice charting the historic developments of human rights law with several case studies to illustrate. Contributors provide detailed comparison with other national legal systems, such as the Inter-American IACHR and Court, placing these reflections in their global comparative context. The work concludes by considering the ways in which challenges can be overcome to achieve increased compliance with international human rights law in Africa. Compliance with International Human Rights Law in Africa is not only a work to honour the contributions of Frans Viljoen but is also an invaluable resource for researchers, practitioners, and policy makers, in the field of international human rights law.

This book explores the nexus between natural resources ownership and the right to development in Africa. The right to sovereignty over natural resources and the right to development are recognised and protected in an extensive framework of international, regional and domestic instruments. They guarantee people's entitlement to fully and freely utilise their natural resources as a means of subsistence and for economic, social and cultural development. Yet, despite the abundance of natural resources in Africa a majority of the people on the continent remain largely impoverished. This book articulates the central argument that to achieve the right to development in Africa requires appropriate governance of the continent’s natural resources to which the people of Africa are guaranteed sovereign ownership. With case study illustrations from Zimbabwe, Ghana, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, chapters explore the normative measures, specific guarantees and community entitlements to natural resources for the realisation of the right to development. The book will be an invaluable guide to scholars and postgraduate students of Natural Resources, Development and African studies as well as policymakers and practitioners in these areas.

About the publication The African Disability Rights Yearbook aims to advance disability scholarship. Coming in the wake of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, it is the first peer-reviewed journal to focus exclusively on disability as human rights on the African continent. It provides an annual forum for scholarly analysis on issues pertaining to the human rights of persons with disabilities. It is also a source for country-based reports as well as commentaries on recent developments in the field of disability rights in the African region. Table of Contents EDITORIAL Editorial SECTION A: ARTICLES Rather bad than mad? A reconsideration of criminal incapacity and psychosocial disability in South African law in light of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Heléne Combrinck Legal capacity of parties with intellectual, psycho-social and communication disabilities in traditional courts in Kwazulu-Natal Willene Holness & Sarah Rule Protection of the rights of persons with mental disabilities to liberty and informed consent to treatment: A critique of Gordon Maddox Mwewa & Others v Attorney General & Another Felicity Kayumba Kalunga & Chipo Mushota Nkhata Rearticulating ubuntu as a viable framework for the realisation of legal capacity in sub-Saharan Africa Louis O. Oyaro Implementing article 13 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in South Africa: Reasonable accommodations for persons with communication disabilities Robyn White & Dianah Msipa Leaving the woods to see the trees: Locating and refocusing the activities of non-state actors towards the effective promotion of access to justice of persons with disability Azubike Onuora-Oguno SECTION B: COUNTRY REPORTS République de Bénin Marianne Séverin Union des Comores Youssouf Ali Mdahoma Mauritania Kedibone Chembe & Babatunde Fagbayibo Rwanda Olwethu Sipuka The Gambia Satang Nabaneh SECTION C: REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS A step to zero attacks: Reflections on the rights of persons with albinism through the lens of X v United Republic of Tanzania Benyam Dawit Mezmur Progress towards inclusive primary education in selected West African countries Ngozi Chuma Umeh BOOK REVIEW Peter Blanck & Eiliónoir Flynn (eds): The Routledge Handbook of Disability Law and Human Rights (2017) Heléne Combrinck

Model Law on Access to Information for Africa and other regional instruments: Soft law and human rights in Africa Edited by Ololade Shyllon 2018 ISBN: 978-1-920538-87-3 Pages: 255 Print version: Available Electronic version: Free PDF available About the publication The adoption in 2013 of the Model Law on Access to Information for Africa by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights is an important landmark in the increasing elaboration of human rights-related soft law standards in Africa. Although non-binding, the Model Law significantly influenced the access to information landscape on the continent. Since the adoption of the Model Law, the Commission adopted several General Comments. The AU similarly adopted Model Laws such as the African Union Model Law on Internally Displaced Persons in Addressing Internal Displacement in Africa. This collection of essays inquires into the role and impact of soft law standards within the African human rights system and the AU generally. It assesses the extent to which these standards induced compliance, and identifies factors that contribute to generating such compliance. This book is a collection of papers presented at a conference organised by the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, with the financial support of the government of Norway, through the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Pretoria. Following the conference, the papers were reviewed and reworked. Table of Contents Acknowledgments Preface Contributors Abbreviations and acronyms PART I: THE MODEL LAW AND ITS INFLUENCE ON ACCESS TO INFORMATION IN AFRICA Introduction Ololade Shyllon The impact of the Model Law on Access to Information for Africa Fola Adeleke Implementing a Model Law on Access to Information in Africa: Lessons from the Americas Marianna Belalba and Alan Sears The implementation of the constitutional right of access to information in Africa: Opportunities and challenges Ololade Shyllon PART II: COUNTRY STUDIES The Model Law on Access to Information for Africa and the struggle for the review and passage of the Ghanaian Right to Information Bill of 2013 Ugonna Ukaigwe The impact of the Model Law on Access to Information for Africa on Kenya’s Access to Information framework Anne Nderi The Sudanese Access to Information Act 2015: A step forward? Ali Abdelrahman Ali Compliance through decoration: Access to information in Zimbabwe Nhlanhla Ngwenya PART III: INFLUENCE OF SOFT LAW WITHIN THE AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS SYSTEM Soft law and legitimacy in the African Union: The case of the Pretoria Principles on Ending Mass Atrocities Pursuant to Article 4(h) of the AU Constitutive Act Busingye Kabumba The incorporation of the thematic resolutions of the African Commission into the domestic laws of African countries Japhet Biegon General Comment 1 of the African Commission of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights: A source of norms and standard setting on sexual and reproductive health and rights Ebenezer Durojaye The African Union Model Law on Internally Displaced Persons: A critique Romola Adeola Selected bibliography

African Human Rights Yearbook / Annuaire africain des droits de l’homme 2 (2018) 2018 ISSN: 2523-1367 Pages: 521 Print version: Available Electronic version: Free PDF available About the publication The three institutions making up the African regional human rights system, the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, decided to jointly publish the African Human Rights Yearbook, to spearhead studies on the promotion and protection of human rights, and to provide a forum for constructive engagement about the African human rights system with academics and other human rights commentators on the continent. Volume 2 of the Yearbook, published in 2018, contains 21 contributions by scholars from Africa and beyond. Les trois institutions qui composent le système régional africain des droits de l’homme, la Cour africaine des droits de l’homme et des peuples, la Commission africaine des droits de l’homme et des peuples et le Comité africain d’experts sur les droits et le bien-être de l’enfant ont décidé de publier conjointement l’Annuaire africain des droits de l’homme pour encourager les études sur la promotion et la protection des droits de l’homme et offrir un forum d’interaction constructive sur le système avec les universitaires et observateurs du continent. Le Volume 2 de l’Annuaire, publié en 2018, contient 21 contributions de chercheurs du continent et d’ailleurs. Table of Contents ARTICLES FOCUSED ON ASPECTS OF THE AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS SYSTEM AND AFRICAN UNION HUMAN RIGHTS NORMS ARTICLES PORTANT SUR LES ASPECTS DU SYSTEME AFRICAIN DES DROITS DE L’HOMME ET LES NORMES DES DROITS DE L’HOMME DE L’UNION AFRICAINE Le système africain de protection des droits de l’homme et le droit international humanitaire Abelungu, Junior Mumbala & Cirimwami, Ezéchiel Amani Les grands silences jurisprudentiels de la Cour africaine des droits de l’homme et des peuples Adjolohoun, Sègnonna Horace The normative power of the right to self-determination under the African Charter and the principle of territorial integrity: competing values of human dignity and system stability Anyangwe, Carlson Perspective d’une fusion entre la Commission et la Cour africaine des droits de l’homme et des peuples: quel scenario possible pour une unification du contentieux régional africain des droits de l’homme? Badugue, Patrick The application of African Union (human rights) law in Uganda: trends and prospects from a comparative review Kabumba, Busingye Signs of triumph, trial and tribulation: reflections on the domestication and implementation of article 9 of the Women’s Rights Protocol in Namibia Kariseb, Kennedy L’exercice de la compétence contentieuse de la Cour africaine des droits de l’homme et des peuples à l’épreuve de la souveraineté des États Kéké, Sakré La déclaration de l’article 34(6) du Protocole de Ouagadougou dans le système africain des droits de l’homme: entre régressions continentales et progressions régionales Kemkeng, Carole Valérie Nouazi Follow-up as a ‘choice-less choice’: towards improving the implementation of decisions on communications of the African Children’s Committee Mezmur, Benyam Dawit & Kahbila, Mbuton Ulrike The interpretation of the right to mental health in the Africa and American systems Wachira, Miriam & Cassell, Doug Assessing Rwexit: the impact and implications of Rwanda’s withdrawal of its article 34(6) declaration before the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights Windridge, Oliver Le mécanisme de garantie des droits de l’homme de la CEDEAO: entre emprunt et appropriation des instruments du système continental Yougbaré, Robert Human rights in the African Union decision-making processes: an inside view of states’ reaction to the Activity Reports of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Zewudie, Tilahun Adamu SPECIAL FOCUS ON THE AFRICAN UNIONS’ THEME FOR 2018: THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION FOCUS SPECIAL SUR LE THEME DE L’UNION AFRICAINE POUR L’ANNEE 2018: LA LUTTE CONTRE LA CORRUPTION Combating corruption-related illicit financial flows from Africa: legal approaches and challenges Duri, Jorum L’hydre de la corruption dans les relations euro-africaines Hassan, Adam Abdou Corruption and the right to vote in free and fair elections in Africa: is the will of the people on auction? Murimi, Edward Kahuthia & Kinyunyu, Selemani CASE COMMENTARIES COMMENTAIRES DE DECISIONS The (un)willingness to implement the recommendations of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights: revisiting the Endorois and the Mamboleo decisions Inman, Derek; Smis, Stefaan; Cirimwami, Ezéchiel Amani & Bahalaokwibuye, Christian Bahati Will Konaté set African journalists free? Interrogating the promises of an emerging press freedom jurisprudence in African regional courts Jansen Reventlow, Nani & Adjolohoun, Ségnonna Horace Genocide denial and freedom of political expression in the Ingabire case Khamala, Charles A Inclusive dialogue, freedom of speech in Rwanda and the milestone decision of the African Court in the matter of Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza v Republic of Rwanda Namwase, Sylvie La première décision au fond de la Cour africaine des droits de l’homme et des peuples: l’affaire Yogogombaye c. Sénégal (15 décembre 2009) Tchikaya, Blaise

Choice and Conscience offers a fresh and insightful perspective on the highly debated issue of conscientious objection in abortion care. Satang Nabaneh’s socio-legal approach, which draws on both traditional legal scholarship and African feminist intellectual traditions, provides a nuanced understanding of how legal norms construct and maintain power relations. By focusing on the experiences of nurses in South Africa, Nabaneh explores the complexities of conscience, discretionary power, and socio-cultural and political factors that influence nurses’ decisions about whether or not to conscientiously object. In the wake of the recent rollback of abortion rights in the United States and the trend towards liberalisation within the African region, Nabaneh provides an important African perspective on how the international human rights framework should strike a contextual balance between freedom of conscience and ensuring access to abortion. Choice and Conscience will interest lawyers, activists, policymakers, scholars, and students exploring the dynamic intersections of law, healthcare, and gender politics. Choice and Conscience … stands as a significant and valuable addition to the ongoing global scholarship on this critical issue. It underscores the vital concept that intersectionality should occupy a central place in our examination of how various local contexts give rise to layered forms of privilege and disadvantage. Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health … Nabaneh’s study of “law in action” zeros in on South African nurses--gatekeepers who often object to the practice for reasons of “conscience.” Her interviews of these nurses and her analysis complicate our understanding of challenges to abortion access, providing lessons applicable not only to South Africa and other African countries, but everywhere where there is a gap between formal law and its application. Mindy Jane Roseman, JD, PhD, Yale Law School Written from an African feminist perspective, this book offers fresh insights into our understanding of the intersection between politics, mobilisation of discretionary power and the exercise of conscientious objection to abortion by mid-level providers. Charles Ngwena, Professor of Law, Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria This book offers powerful insights about how informal and background norms in health systems function constrain or enable reproductive justice. Focusing on conscientious objection to abortion by nurses (including midwives) in South Africa, Nabaneh sketches the importance of a feminist analysis that is situated in Africans’ lived realities. Alicia Ely Yamin, Harvard University