African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights - 2004

11 judgments
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Results. 11 judgments found.

11 judgments
December 2004
The respondent’s incitement and coerced return of refugees breached African Charter protections, including the ban on mass expulsion.
  • Refugee law — Mass expulsion and non‑refoulement — Prohibition of mass expulsion targeting national groups — African Charter Art.12(5); OAU Convention Art.4
  • Human rights — Non‑discrimination and inhuman treatment — State‑incited discrimination, arbitrary detention, sexual violence and degrading treatment — African Charter Arts.2,4,5,14
  • Admissibility — Exhaustion of local remedies — Life‑threatening persecution and impracticality preclude requirement — African Charter Art.56(5)
7 December 2004
Failure to attempt domestic remedies rendered the land‑rights communication inadmissible despite standing and unresolved UN involvement.
  • Human rights
    • — Property / Land rights — Exhaustion of local remedies — Article 56(5) of the African Charter
    • — Standing — Representative organisations and authorised agents may bring communications under article 56(1)
    • — Admissibility — Pending / prior international consideration (ne bis in idem) — No bar where prior body gave no final decision on merits
7 December 2004
Communication dismissed as inadmissible for failure to exhaust domestic remedies despite allegations of judicial bias.
  • Human rights
    • — Admissibility — Exhaustion of local remedies — Application of Article 56(5) of the African Charter
    • — Judicial independence — Alleged lack of impartiality — Mere apprehension does not excuse non‑exhaustion of domestic remedies
7 December 2004
Restriction on sacramental cannabis use did not violate the applicant's religious, occupational, dignity, or cultural rights.
  • Human rights
    • — Freedom of religion — Sacramental use of cannabis — Limitations permissible where justified by legitimate public interest (article 27(2))
    • — Right to work/occupational choice — Professional fitness requirements — Refusal to register applicant who intends to contravene general law not a violation of article 15
    • — Subsidiarity and margin of appreciation — Domestic discretion acknowledged but Commission retains supervisory review under the African Charter
7 December 2004
Summary dismissal without notice violated the applicant’s right to a fair hearing under Article 7(1)(a).
  • Human rights — Fair trial — Dismissal for non-appearance without notice — Article 7(1)(a) African Charter
  • Civil procedure — Application of procedural rules — Discretion must not negate substantive rights
  • Human rights — Access to justice — Judicial dismissal and availability of set-aside/remedy
7 December 2004
June 2004
Communication inadmissible for failure to exhaust local remedies after domestic trials and releases.
  • Human rights — Admissibility — Exhaustion of local remedies — Whether communication admissible when domestic courts have tried and released detainees — African Charter art.56(5)
4 June 2004
Communication alleging breaches of judicial independence and fair hearing closed after complainant withdrew while domestic processes proceeded.
  • Human rights — Judicial independence — Alleged public naming, suspension and tribunals against judges for corruption
  • Admissibility
    • — Reliance on media reports — Requirement of factual basis under Article 56(4) of the African Charter
    • — Exhaustion of local remedies — Article 56(5) and availability of domestic judicial and statutory remedies
4 June 2004
Communication alleging mass extra‑judicial killings dismissed for failure to show exhaustion of domestic remedies.
  • Human rights — Admissibility — Exhaustion of local remedies — Exception for large‑scale/epidemiological violations under Article 56(5)
  • Procedure — Admissibility submissions — Failure to furnish requested written submissions leads to inadmissibility
4 June 2004
Dissolution of an opposition party violated freedom of association because the sanction was disproportionate to the alleged conduct.
  • Human rights
    • — Freedom of association — Dissolution of political party — Proportionality and necessity of restrictions — African Charter art. 10(1)
    • — Freedom of expression — Regulation vs
  • Charter primacy — Limitations must be legitimate, necessary and proportionate
  • Procedure — Admissibility — Exhaustion of local remedies — Ordinary remedies required; extraordinary revision not obligatory
4 June 2004
Undue judicial delay violated the applicant’s right to have his case heard within a reasonable time; State must expedite and compensate.
  • Human rights
    • — Fair trial — Right to be tried within a reasonable time — State responsibility for undue delay
    • — Property rights — Admissibility versus merits — Commission will not substitute domestic courts absent final decision
4 June 2004
Commission finds violation of the applicant’s property rights where an unexplained donation deprived him of his inheritance.
  • Human rights
    • — Property rights — Dispossession by unexplained donation — Violation of Article 14 of the African Charter
    • — Slavery — Lingering consequences of slavery and evidentiary assessment in property disputes — State obligations to remedy resultant dispossession
4 June 2004