Arusha, 16 December, 2015: The Prime Minister of the Republic of Chad Hon. Kalzeubet Pahimi Deubet has underscored the importance of human rights in Africa, saying that it was vital for the respect and dignity of the mankind on the continent.

Addressing at the opening of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights session in N’djamena yesterday, Hon. Deubet stated that democratic achievements cannot be deviated from the liberty and the fundamental human rights of the people.

The Prime Minister said that the two-day sensitization seminar would offer a better knowledge of the African Court’s work and activities in the Central African Region.

The aim of the Court was to promote and protect human rights in Africa, he said, adding that it can only be attained through individual and collective efforts.

He stated that his country would speed up ratification of the Court’s Protocol and other countries which have not done so in the Central African Region should follow suit.

‘’The Court is for the protection of the human rights and has to be at the fore front in this noble crusade’’ he told over 100 delegates which included government officials, relevant ministries, Bar Associations and the Human Rights Commissions from Chad, Gabon, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic, among others.

The President of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Right, Hon Jutsice Augustino Ramadhani said that one sure way of ensuring better respect and protection of human rights was to have an effective and independent judiciary and called for total support from all AU Member States for the African Court.

‘’The effectiveness of the Court requires the support of all stakeholders and especially the Member States of the African Union,’’ he underlined.

The Bar of Association of the Republic of Chad welcomed the African Court’s sensitization, noting that it has come at an opportune time when the country was undertaking reforms in its judicial systems.

The delegation of the Court also met top Chadian government officials, including the Minister for Justice and Human Rights, the Human Rights Commission and related institutions.
The seminar was preceded by a one-day sensitization for senior Chadian Journalists and Editors on 14 December, 2015.

During the media training, the President of the African Court emphasised on the critical role of the media to promote human rights on the continent.

‘’ Effective dissemination of the information of the African Court would help to enhance the human and peoples’ rights and generally help to lay a strong foundation for a measureable and authentic democratic societies in our countries, which have been victims of colonialism, poverty and underdevelopment’’ he told journalists and editors from over 15 different media.

Since December 2010, the Court has carried out continent-wide promotion programmes which have so far seen it hold 24 sensitization visits and 9 regional and continental seminars and conferences.

The main objective of the sensitization visits is to enhance the protection of human rights in Africa. Specific objectives include raising public awareness about the Court; encouraging the ratification and the deposit of the Declaration under Article 34(6) of the Protocol of the Court that allows individuals and NGOs direct access to the Court; sensitizing would-be applicants on how to access the Court and the procedures before the Court; encouraging the public to utilize the Court in settling human rights disputes and encouraging the utilization of the Court to render advisory opinions.

NOTES FOR EDITORS:
1. The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights was established by virtue of Article 1 of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights, to complement the protective mandate of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, with a view to enhancing the protection of human rights on the continent.
2. Since the adoption of the Protocol in June 1998 (more than 16 years ago), twenty nine (29) of the fifty four (54) Member States of the African Union have ratified it, and seven (7) State Parties to the Protocol have made the Declaration under Article 34(6).
3. The success of the Court as a human rights protection mechanism requires much wider ratification of the Protocol by Member States, as well as their acceptance of the competence of the Court by making the Declaration under Article 34(6). This “universal” ratification will give the Court the legitimacy it needs to effectively discharge its mandate.
Further information on the sensitization visit can be obtained from the Court’s website at www.en-african-court.org.