The Au Human Rights Monitoring Capacity : in the case of African Peer Review Mechansim
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Date
2015-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This thesis assesses the human rights monitoring capacity of the AU and the role APRM can play in it. It argues that, in Africa, historical evidence suggests a continuing pattern of human rights violations have continued by unchecked dictatorial regime. It also seeks to demonstrate that for various reasons, the AU has been weak in monitoring of human rights violations. This attributes to two main reasons. One, the relative dignity and human value enjoyed by African in pre-colonial era became negatively impacted by colonialism as an aspect of foreign intervention in Africa. This impact has remains with the African leaders. The leaders become ruling the continent after colonialism has been characterized as dictators and military leaders which apply similar system of their previous colonial masters in violating human rights. None of the Heads of State and Government was freely and fairly elected. It was virtually the same club of dictators who adopted the African Human rights Charter in 1981.
Second, the African commission and the court are often ineffective because they lack resources and political commitments of member states for the protection of human rights. Even at the level of the assembly of heads of state, the reports of the African Commission do not receive adequate attention or consideration but are often simply adopted without due regard to the issues raised. Hitherto, the African system of human rights has evolved against the experience of colonialism, dictatorships, the failure of administering justice, and reluctance. Africa is still facing the long road to promotion and protection of human rights for all Africans. Yet within this setting the APRM had anticipated as an opportunity to hold African leaders accountable and conceived as it can add value to human rights monitoring capacity of African commission. Hence, this assessment is done in relation to the work that is being done by APRM and the challenges that it has confronted over the years. In assessing the role of the APRM in human rights monitoring, this study discharges the importance of peer review and investigates the challenges facing it in the field of human rights
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African Peer Review Mechanism