African Court officials in Lesotho

Residents queue for services outside a government building in Maseru, the capital of Lesotho, on September 1, 2014. FILE PHOTO | HLOMPHO LETSIELO |

What you need to know:

  • Mission aims to promote its activities by holding a seminar and meeting government officials.

The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights has started a two-day visit to Lesotho to promote its activities.

The delegation mission, expected to end on Tuesday, will pay courtesy calls on officials, including the Prime Minister, Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Justice and the President of Senate, among others.

The mission, composed of three judges and registry staff, will also hold a seminar for human rights stakeholders.

Since December 2010, the Court has carried out continent-wide promotion programmes which have so far seen it hold 22 sensitisation visits and nine regional and continental seminars and conferences.

The main objective of the visits is to enhance the protection of human rights in Africa.

Specific objectives include raising public awareness about the Court; encouraging 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; sensitising would-be applicants on how to access the Court and the procedures before the Court; encouraging the public to utilise the Court in settling human rights disputes and encouraging the utilisation of the Court to render advisory opinions.

The Court was established 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.