/ 16 April 1999

AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS COURT POSSIBLE

THE establishment of an African human rights court responsible for trying human rights breaches will be discussed at Africa’s first conference devoted to the continent’s human rights situation, continuing in Grand Baie, Mauritius on Friday. The conference is attended by African foreign ministers The protocol for the proposed court must be ratified by 15 OAU member states to come into effect. It has been signed by 30 countries, while only Burkina Faso and Senegal have ratified it. The meeting is the first of its kind to be organised by the Organisation of African Unity on the human rights situation within its 53 member countries.