Lack of Commitment Dooms Africa's Human Rights Court

According an article by Webster Zambara of the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation, the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights received a total of 10 cases, despite countless human rights violations across the continent.

Zambara says that even the deadline for an essay competition for law students in African universities to promote the court and its activities, has been extended from 31 January to 30 June because of too few takers.

In addition, despite the high proportion of women among victims of human-rights abuses in Africa, there are only two female judges among the court's 11.

Webster Zambara is a senior project leader for the Southern Africa desk at the Institute for Justice and ­Reconciliation.

To read the article titled, “Lack of commitment dooms Africa's human rights court,” click here.