CARTA AFRICANA SOBRE LOS DERECHOS HUMANOS Y DE LOS PUEBLOS
(CARTA DE BANJUL)
"(Aprobada el 27 de julio de 1981, durante la XVIII Asamblea de Jefes de Estado y Gobierno de la Organización de
la Unidad Africana, reunida en Nairobi, Kenya)".
PREAMBULO
Los Estados africanos miembros de la Organización para la Unidad Africana, firmantes de este Convenio titulado
"Carta africana sobre derechos humanos y de los pueblos",
Recordando la Decisión 115, XVI de la Asamblea de jefes de Estado de gobierno, en su decimosexta sesión
ordinaria, celebrada en Monrovia, Liberia, del 17 al 20 de julio de 1979, referente a la preparación de "un proyecto
preliminar de una Carta africana sobre los derechos humanos y de los pueblos que contemple entre otras cosas la
creación de organismos cuya función sea promover y proteger los derechos humanos y de los pueblos";
Considerando la Carta de la Organización para la Unidad Africana, la cual estipula que "la libertad, la igualdad, la
justicia y la dignidad son objetivos esenciales para la realización de las legítimas aspiraciones de los pueblos
africanos";
Reafirmando la promesa que hicieron solemnemente en el artículo 2 de dicha Carta de erradicar de Africa toda
forma de colonialismo, coordinar e intensificar su cooperación y esfuerzos por alcanzar una vida mejor para los
pueblos de Africay fomentar la cooperación con la debida consideración a la Carta de las Naciones Unidas y a la
Declaración de los derechos humanos;
Tomando en consideración las virtudes de su tradición histórica y los valores de la civilización africana que deberían
inspirar y caracterizar su reflejo en el concepto de derechos humanos y de los pueblos,
Reconociendo, por un lado, que los derechos humanos fundamentales derivan de los atributos de los seres humanos,
lo cual justifica su protección internacional, y, por otro lado, que la realidad y el respeto de los derechos de los
pueblos deberían necesariamente garantizar los derechos humanos; Considerando que el disfrute de derechos y
libertades también implica el cumplimiento de deberes por parte de todos;
Convencidos de que en lo sucesivo es esencial prestar especial atención al derecho al desarrollo y de que los
derechos civiles y políticos no pueden ser disociados de los derechos económicos, sociales y culturales en su
concepción y en su universalidad, y de que la satisfacción de los derechos económicos, sociales y culturales
constituye una garantía del disfrute de los derechos civiles y políticos;
Conscientes de su deber de lograr la total liberación de Africa, cuyos pueblos todavía están luchando por su dignidad
y genuina independencia, y comprometiéndose a eliminar el colonialismo, el neocolonialismo, la segregación racial
y el sionismo, y a hacer desaparecer las bases militares extranjeras agresivas y toda forma de discriminación,
particularmente la basada en la raza, el grupo étnico, el color, el sexo, la lengua, la religión o las opiniones políticas;
Reafirmando su adhesión a los principios de los derechos y las libertades humanos y de los pueblos contenidos en
las declaraciones, convenios y otros instrumentos adoptados por la Organización para la Unidad Africana el
Movimiento de los países no alineados y las Naciones Unidas;
Firmemente convencidos de su deber de promover y proteger los derechos y libertades humanos y de los pueblos
teniendo en cuenta la importancia tradicionalmente concedida en Africa a esos derechos y libertades; Acuerdan lo
siguiente:
2
PARTE 1
DERECHOS Y DEBERES
CAPITULO 1
DERECHOS HUMANOS Y DE LOS PUEBLOS
Artículo 1
Los Estados miembros de la Organización para la Unidad Africana firmantes de la presente Carta reconocerán los
derechos, deberes y libertades contemplados en esta Carta y se comprometerán a adoptar medidas legislativas o de
otra índole con el fin de llevarlos a efecto.
Artículo 2
Todo individuo tendrá derecho al disfrute de los derechos y libertades reconocidos y garantizados en la presente
Carta sin distinción de ningún tipo como raza, grupo étnico, color, sexo, lengua, religión, opinión política o de otra
índole, origen social y nacional, fortuna, nacimiento u otro status.
Artículo 3
1. Todos los individuos serán iguales ante la ley.
2. Todos los individuos tendrán derecho a igual protección de la ley
Artículo 4
Los seres humanos son inviolables. Todo ser humano tendrá derecho al respeto de su vida y de la integridad de su
persona. Nadie puede ser privado de este derecho arbitrariamente.
Artículo 5
Todo individuo tendrá derecho al respeto de la dignidad inherente al ser humano y al reconocimiento de su status
legal. Todas las formas de explotación y degradación del hombre, especialmente la esclavitud, el co-mercio de
esclavos, la tortura, el castigo y el trato cruel, inhumano o degradante, serán prohibidos.
Artículo 6
Todo individuo tendrá derecho a la libertad y a la seguridad de su persona. Nadie puede ser privado de su libertad
más que por razones y condiciones previamente establecidas por la ley. En especial, nadie puede ser arrestado o
detenido arbitrariamente.
Artículo 7
1. Todo individuo tiene derecho a que sea visto su caso, lo cual implica:
a) derecho de apelación a órganos nacionales competentes contra actos que violen sus derechos fundamentales
reconocidos y garantizados por los convenios, leyes, ordenanzas y costumbres vigentes;
b) el derecho a ser considerado inocente hasta que un tribunal competente demuestre su inocencia;
c) el derecho a la defensa, incluido el derecho a ser defendido por un abogado de su elección;
d) el derecho a ser juzgado dentro de un plazo de tiempo razonable por un tribunal imparcial.
2. Nadie puede ser condenado por un acto u omisión que no constituya una ofensa legalmente punible, en el
momento en que se cometió. No se puede infligir pena alguna por una ofensa contra la que no existe
ninguna disposición en el momento de ser cometida. Las penas son personales y sólo pueden ser impuestas
al transgresor.
Artículo 8
La libertad de conciencia y profesión, y la libre práctica de la religión estarán garantizadas. Nadie que respete la ley
y el orden puede ser sometido a medidas que restrinjan el ejercicio de esas libertades.
Artículo 9
1. Todo individuo tendrá derecho a recibir información.
2. Todo individuo tendrá derecho a expresar y difundir sus opiniones, siempre que respete la ley.
3
Artículo 10
1. Todo individuo tendrá derecho a la libre asociación, siempre que cumpla con la ley.
2. De conformidad con la obligación de solidaridad contemplada en el artículo 29, nadie puede ser obligado a
formar parte de una asociación.
Artículo 11
Todo individuo tendrá derecho a reunirse libremente con otros. El ejercicio de este derecho estará sujeto solamente a
las necesarias restricciones estipuladas por la ley, en especial las decretadas en interés de la seguridad nacional, la
seguridad personal, la salud, la ética y los derechos y libertades de los otros.
Artículo 12
1. Todo individuo tendrá derecho a la libertad de tránsito y de residencia dentro de las fronteras de un Estado,
siempre que se atenga a la ley.
2. Todo individuo tendrá derecho a salir de cualquier país, incluido el suyo, y a retornar a su propio país. Este
derecho sólo está sujeto a las restricciones estipuladas por la ley para la protección de la seguridad
nacional, la ley y el orden, la salud pública o la moral.
3. Todo individuo tendrá derecho, cuando esté perseguido, a buscar y obtener asilo en otros países de
conformidad con las leyes de esos países y los convenios internacionales.
4. Un extranjero legalmente admitido en un territorio de un Estado firmante de la presente Carta, sólo puede
ser expulsado de él en virtud de una decisión tomada de conformidad con la ley.
5. La expulsión masiva de extranjeros estará prohibida. Expulsión masiva será aquella dirigida a un grupo
nacional, racial, étnico o religioso.
Artículo 13
1. Todo ciudadano tendrá derecho a participar libremente en el gobierno de su país, ya sea de modo directo o
a través de representantes libremente escogidos de conformidad con las disposiciones de la ley.
2. Todo ciudadano tendrá derecho a acceder al servicio público de su país.
3. Todo individuo tendrá derecho a acceder a la propiedad y a los servicios públicos en estricta igualdad con
todas las personas ante la ley.
Artículo 14
Estará garantizado el derecho a la propiedad. Este solamente podrá ser usurpado en el interés público o general de la
comunidad y de conformidad con las disposiciones de las leyes adecuadas.
Artículo 15
Todo individuo tendrá derecho a trabajar en condiciones justas y satisfactorias, y recibirá igual paga por igual
trabajo.
Artículo 16
1. Todo individuo tendrá derecho a disfrutar del mejor estado fisico y mental posible.
2. Los Estados firmantes de la presente Carta tomarán las medidas necesarias para proteger la salud de su
pueblo y asegurarse de que reciben asistencia médica cuando están enfermos.
Artículo 17
1. Todo individuo tendrá derecho a la educación.
2. Todo individuo podrá participar libremente en la vida cultural de su comunidad.
3. La promoción y protección de la moral y de los valores tradicionales reconocidos por la comunidad serán
deberes del Estado.
Artículo 18
1. La familia será la unidad natural y la base de la sociedad. Esta estará protegida por el Estado, el cual se
ocupará de su salud física y moral.
2. El Estado tendrá el deber de asistir a la familia, la cual custodia la moral y los valores tradicionales
reconocidos por la comunidad.
4
3. El Estado se hará responsable de la eliminación de toda discriminación de la mujer y de la protección de los
derechos de la mujer y del niño tal como se estipulan en las declaraciones y convenios internacionales.
4. Los ancianos y los minusválidos también tendrán derecho a medidas especiales de protección adecuadas a
sus necesidades fisicas o morales.
Artículo 19
Todos los pueblos serán iguales; todos disfrutarán del mismo respeto y tendrán los mismos derechos. Nada
justificará la dominación de un pueblo por otro.
Artículo 20
1. Todos los pueblos tendrán derecho a la existencia. Tendrán el incuestionable e inalienable derecho a la
autodeterminación. Decidirán libremente su status político y procurarán su desarrollo económico y social
según la política que ellos mismos hayan escogido libremente.
2. Los pueblos colonizados u oprimidos tendrán derecho a liberarse de las ataduras de la dominación
recurriendo a cualquier medio reconocido por la comunidad internacional.
3. Todos los pueblos tendrán derecho a la ayuda de los Estados firmantes de la presente Carta en su lucha por
la liberación de la dominación extranjera, ya sea política, económica o cultural.
Artículo 21
1. Todos los pueblos dispondrán libremente de sus riquezas y recursos naturales. Este derecho será ejercido en
el exclusivo interés del pueblo. En ningún caso será pueblo alguno privado de él.
2. En caso de expoliación, el pueblo desposeído tendrá derecho a la recuperación legal de su propiedad así
como a una compensación adecuada.
3. El derecho a disponer libremente de las riquezas y recursos naturales será ejercido sin perjuicio de la
obligación de promover la cooperación económica internacional basada en el respeto mutuo, el intercambio
equitatvo y los principios del derecho internacional.
4. Los Estados firmantes de la presente Carta ejercerán, individual y colectivamente, el derecho a disponer de
sus riquezas y recursos naturales con vistas a reforzar la unidad y la solidaridad africanas.
6. Los Estados firmantes de la presente Carta se comprometerán a eliminar toda forma de explotación
económica extranjera, especialmente la practicada por los monopolios internacionales, con el fin de
posibilitar que sus pueblos se beneficien plenamente de las ventajas derivadas de sus recursos naturales.
Artículo 22
1. Todos los pueblos tendrán derecho a su desarrollo económico, social y cultural, con la debida consideración
a su libertad e identidad y disfrutando por igual de la herencia común de la humanidad.
2. Los Estados tendrán el deber, individual o colectivamente, de garantizar el ejercicio del derecho al
desarrollo.
Artículo 23
1. Todos los pueblos tendrán derecho ala paz y a la seguridad nacional e internacional. Los principios de
solidaridad y de relaciones amistosas implícitamente afirmados por la Carta de las Naciones Unidas y
reafirmados por la de la Organización para la Unidad Africana gobernarán las relaciones entre Estados.
2. Con el fin de fortalecer la paz, la solidaridad y las relaciones amistosas, los Estados firmantes de la presente
Carta garantizarán que:
a) cualquier individuo que disfrute del derecho de asilo contemplado en el artículo 12 de la presente Carta no
realice actividades subversivas contra su país o cualquier Estado firmante de la presente Carta;
b) sus territorios no serán usados como base para actividades subversivas o terroristas contra el pueblo de
cualquier otro Estado firmante de la presente Carta.
Artículo 24
Todos los pueblos tendrán derecho a un entorno general satisfactorio favorable a su desarrollo.
5
Artículo 25
Los Estados firmantes de la presente Carta tendrán el deber de promover y garantizar por medio de la enseñanza, la
educación y la divulgación, el respeto de los derechos y libertades contenidos en la presente Carta y de procurar que
estas libertades y derechos, así como las correspondientes obligaciones y deberes, sean entendidos.
Artículo 26
Los Estados firmantes de la presente Carta tendrán el deber de garanti-zar la independencia de los tribunales de
justicia y permitirán la creación y la mejora de instituciones nacionales apropiadas que se ocupen de la promoción y
la protección de los derechos y libertades garantizados por la presente Carta.
CAPITULO II
DEBERES
Artículo 27
1. Todo individuo tendrá deberes para con su familia y sociedad, para con el Estado y otras comunidades
legalmente reconocidas, así como para con la comunidad internacional.
2. Los derechos y libertades de cada individuo se ejercerán con la debida consideración a los derechos de los demás,
a la seguridad colectiva, a la moralidad y al interés común.
Artículo 28
Todo individuo tendrá el deber de respetar y considerar a sus semejantes sin discriminación, y de mantener
relaciones encaminadas a promover, salvaguardar y fortalecer el respeto y la tolerancia mutuos.
Artículo 29
El individuo también tendrá el deber de:
1. Preservar el desarrollo armonioso de la familia y de fomentar el respeto y la cohesión de ésta; de respetar a
sus padres en todo momento y de mantenerlos en caso de necesidad;
2. Servir a su comunidad nacional poniendo sus aptitudes fisicas e intelectuales a su servicio;
3. No comprometer la seguridad del Estado del cual sea nacional o residente;
4. Preservar y reforzar la solidaridad nacional y social, especialmente cuando la primera se vea amenazada;
5. Preservar y reforzar la independencia nacional y la integridad territorial de su país, así como contribuir a su
defensa de conformidad con la ley;
6. Trabajar al máximo de su rendimiento y pagar los impuestos estipulados por la ley en el interés de la
sociedad;
7. Preservar y reforzar los valores culturales africanos positivos en sus relaciones con los demás miembros de
la sociedad en un espíritu de tolerancia, diálogo y consulta y, en general, contribuir a la promoción del
bienestar moral de la sociedad;
8. Contribuir en todo lo posible, en todo momento y a todos los niveles a la promoción y la consecución de la
unidad africana.
6
PARTE II
MEDIDAS DE SALVAGUARDA
CAPITULO I
CREACION Y ORGANIZACION DE LA COMISION AFRICANA SOBRE DERECHOS HUMANOS Y DE
LOS PUEBLOS
Artículo 30
Dentro de la Organización para la Unidad Africana se creará una Comisión Africana sobre derechos humanos y de
los pueblos, a la cual, a partir de aquí, nos referiremos como "la Comisión", para promover los derechos humanos y
de los pueblos y garantizar su protección en Africa.
Artículo 31
1. La Comisión constará de once miembros escogidos entre personalidades africanas de la máxima reputación,
conocidas por su gran moralidad, integridad, imparcialidad y competencia en materia de derechos humanos de
los pueblos; se otorgará una particular consideración a las personas que tengan experiencia legal.
2. Los miembros de la Comisión actuarán a título personal.
Artículo 32
La Comisión no incluirá a más de un ciudadano del mismo Estado.
Artículo 33
Los miembros de la Comisión serán elegidos en votación secreta por la Asamblea de jefes de Estado y de gobierno,
de una lista de personas designadas por los Estados firmantes de la presente Carta.
Artículo 34
Cada Estado firmante de la presente Carta no podrá designar a más de dos candidatos. Los candidatos deberán tener
la nacionalidad de uno de los Estados firmantes de la presente Carta. Cuando un Estado designa dos candidatos, uno
de ellos puede tener una nacionalidad distinta del Estado que lo designa.
Artículo 35
1. El secretario general de la Organización para la Unidad Africana invitará a los Estados firmantes de la
presente Carta, al menos cuatro meses antes de la elección, a designar candidatos;
2. El secretario general de la Organización para la Unidad Africana confeccionará una lista de las personas
designadas, por orden alfabético, y la transmitirá a los jefes de Estado y de gobierno al menos un mes antes
de la elección.
Artículo 36
Los miembros de la Comisión serán elegidos para un período de seis años y serán susceptibles de ser reelegidos. Sin
embargo, la duración del cargo de cuatro de los miembros elegidos en la primera elección terminará al cabo de dos
años, y la de los de los otros tres al cabo de cuatro años.
Artículo 37
Inmediatamente después de la primera elección, el presidente de la Asamblea de jefes de Estado y de gobierno de la
Organización para la Unidad Africana echará a suertes qué miembros ocuparán su cargo durante un período u otro
de los señalados en el artículo 36.
Artículo 38
Tras la elección, los miembros de la Comisión realizarán una solemne declaración de su intención de desempeñar
sus deberes imparcial y fielmente.
7
Artículo 39
1. En caso de muerte o dimisión de un miembro de la Comisión, el presidente de la misma informará
inmediatamente al secretario general de la Organización para la Unidad Africana, el cual declarará el
puesto vacante a partir de la fecha de la muerte o de la fecha en que la dimisión sea efectiva.
2. Si todos los miembros de la Comisión opinan unánimemente que uno de los miembros ha dejado de
desempeñar sus deberes por alguna razón que no sea una ausencia temporal, el presidente de la Comisión
informará al secretario de la Organización para la Unidad Africana, el cual declarará el puesto vacante.
3. En los casos anticipados anteriormente, la Asamblea de jefes de Estado y de gobierno designará un
sustituto del miembro cuyo puesto ha quedado vacante para el restante período de la duración de su cargo, a
no ser que éste sea inferior a seis meses.
Artículo 40
Todo miembro de la Comisión ocupará su cargo hasta que acceda a él su sucesor.
Artículo 41
El secretario general de la Organización para la Unidad Africana nombrará al secretario de la Comisión. También
proporcionará el personal y los servicios necesarios para el efectivo cumplimiento de los deberes de la Comisión. La
Organización para la Unidad Africana correrá con los gastos originados por el personal y los servicios.
Artículo 42
1. La Comisión elegirá a su presidente y a su vicepresidente para un período de dos años. Estos serán
susceptibles de reelección.
2. La Comisión elaborará su reglamento.
3. Siete miembros constituirán quórum.
4. En caso de empate, el presidente tendrá el voto decisivo.
5. El secretario general puede asistir a las reuniones de la Comisión, pero no participará en las deliberaciones
ni tendrá derecho a voto. Sin embargo, el presidente de la Comisión puede invitarlo a hablar.
Artículo 43
Al desempeñar sus funciones, los miembros de la Comisión disfrutarán de los privilegios e inmunidades
diplomáticas que se contemplan en el Convenio general sobre privilegios e inmunidades de la Organización para la
Unidad Africana.
Artículo 44
En el presupuesto ordinario de la Organización para la Unidad Africana se incluirán los emolumentos y las
retribuciones de los miembros de la Comisión.
CAPITULO II
MANDATO DE LA COMISION
Artículo 45
Las funciones de la Comisión serán:
1. Promover los derechos humanos y de los pueblos, y en especial:
a) recopiar documentos, emprender estudios e investigar los problemas africanos en materia de derechos
humanos y de los pueblos, organizar seminarios, simposios y conferencias, difundir información, alentar a
las instituciones nacionales y locales interesadas en los derechos humanos y de los pueblos, y, en su caso,
dar sus opiniones o hacer recomendaciones a los gobiernos;
b) formular y establecer principios y normas destinados a resolver problemas legales relativos a los derechos
humanos y de los pueblos y a las libertades fundamentales en los que los gobiernos africanos puedan basar
sus legislaciones.
2. Garantizar la protección de los derechos humanos y de los pueblos en las condiciones establecidas por la
presente Carta.
3. Interpretar todas las disposiciones de la presente Carta a petición de un Estado firmante, de una institución
de la OUA o de una organización africana reconocida por la OUA.
8
4. Llevar a cabo cualquier otra tarea que la Asamblea de jefes de Estado y de gobierno le encomiende.
CAPITULO III
PROCEDIMIENTO DE LA COMISION
Artículo 46
La Comisión puede recurrir a cualquier método de investigación apropiado; puede apelar al secretario general de la
Organización para la Unidad Africana o a cualquier otra persona capaz de informarla.
Comunicados de los Estados
Artículo 47
Si un Estado firmante de la presente Carta tiene buenas razones para creer que otro Estado firmante de esta Carta ha
violado las disposiciones de la misma, puede llamar la atención, mediante comunicado escrito de este Estado
respecto al tema en cuestión. Ese comunicado también le será remitido al secretario general de la OUA y al
presidente de la Comisión. Dentro de un período de tres meses a partir de la fecha de recepción del comunicado, el
Estado al que éste va dirigido dará al Estado inquisidor una explicación o declaración escrita que aclare la cuestión.
Esta incluirá toda la información relevante posible relativa a las leyes y normativa aplicadas y aplicables y el
remedio arbitrado o la acción prevista.
Artículo 48
Si al cabo de tres meses a partir de la fecha en que el comunicado original es recibido por el Estado al que va
dirigido, el asunto no ha quedado resuelto a satisfacción de los dos Estados implicados mediante negociación
bilateral o cualquier otro procedimiento pacífico, cualquiera de los dos Estados tendrá derecho a remitir el asunto a
la Comisión a través del presidente y notificará a los Estados implicados.
Artículo 49
A pesar de las disposiciones del artículo 47, si un Estado firmante de la presente Carta considera que otro Estado
firmante ha violado las disposiciones de la Carta, puede remitir el asunto directamente a la Comisión dirigiendo un
comunicado al presidente, al secretario general de la Organización para la Unidad Africana y al Estado implicado.
Artículo 50
La Comisión solamente puede ocuparse de un asunto que se le haya remitido tras asegurarse de que se han agotado
todos los recursos locales, en caso de que existan, a no ser que sea obvio para la Comisión que el proceso de
agotamiento de esos recursos sería demasiado largo.
Artículo 51
1. La Comisión puede solicitar de los Estados implicados que le proporcionen toda la información relevante.
2. Mientras la Comisión está considerando el asunto, los Estados implicados pueden estar representados ante
ella y presentar alegaciones orales o escritas.
Artículo 52
Tras haber obtenido de los Estados implicados y de otras fuentes toda la información que considere necesaria, y tras
haber intentado todos los medios apropiados de llegar a una solución amistosa basada en el respeto los derechos
humanos y de los pueblos, la Comisión preparará dentro de un período de tiempo razonable a partir de la fecha de la
notificación a la que se hace referencia en el artículo 48, un informe en el que se especifiquen los hechos y sus
conclusiones. Ese informe será remitido a los Estados implicados y comunicado a la Asamblea de jefes de Estado y
de gobierno.
Artículo 53
Mientras transmite ese informe, la Comisión puede hacer a la Asamblea de jefes de Estado y de gobierno las
recomendaciones que considere útiles.
9
Artículo 54
La Comisión presentará un informe de sus actividades a cada sesión ordinaria de la Asamblea de jefes de Estado y
de gobierno.
Otros comunicados
Artículo 55
1. Antes de cada sesión, el secretario de la Comisión confeccionará una lista de los comunicados distintos de
los de los Estados firmantes de la presente Carta y se la transmitirá a los miembros de la Comisión, los
cuales indicarán qué comunicados deberán ser considerados por la Comisión.
2. Un comunicado será considerado por la Comisión si lo decide así una mayoría simple de sus miembros.
Artículo 56
Los comunicados relativos a los derechos humanos y de los pueblos a los que se hace referencia en el artículo 55
recibidos por la Comisión serán considerados si:
1. sus autores se identifican, aunque soliciten el anonimato;
2. son compatibles con la Carta de la Organización para la Unidad Africana o con la presente Carta:
3. no están escritos en un lenguaje despectivo o insultante dirigido contra el Estado implicado, sus
instituciones o contra la Organización para la Unidad Africana;
4. no están basados exclusivamente en noticias difundidas por los medios de comunicación;
5. son enviados después de agotar los recursos locales, si es que existen, a no ser que resulte obvio que tal
proceso sería demasiada largo;
6. son presentados dentro de un período de tiempo razonable a partir del momento en que se agotaron los
recursos locales o de la fecha en que la Comisión es puesta al corriente del asunto; y
7. no tratan de casos que ya han sido solucionados por los Estados implicados de conformidad con los
principios de la Carta de las Naciones Unidas, la Carta de la Organización para la Unidad Africana o las
disposiciones de la presente Carta.
Artículo 57
Con anterioridad a cualquier consideración importante todos los comunicados serán transmitidos al Estado
implicado por el presidente de la Comisión.
Artículo 58
1. Cuando, tras someterlos a las deliberaciones de la Comisión, parece que uno o más comunicados se refieren
a casos especiales que revelan la existencia de una serie de violaciones graves o masivas de los derechos
humanos y de los pueblos, la Comisión llamará la atención de la Asamblea de jefes de Estado y de
gobierno respecto a esos casos.
3. La Asamblea de jefes de Estado y de gobierno puede solicitar entonces de la Comisión que emprenda la
realización de un estudio a fondo de esos casos y que elabore un informe factual, el cual acompañará de su
conclusión y recomendaciones.
4. Un caso urgente que haya sido detectado por la Comisión será presentado por ésta al presidente de la
Asamblea de jefes de Estado y de gobierno, la cual podrá solicitar la realización de un estudio en
profundiad.
Artículo 59
1. Todas las medidas tomadas de conformidad con las disposiciones de la presente Carta serán confidenciales
hasta que la Asamblea de jefes de Estado y de gobierno decidan lo contrario.
2. Sin embargo, el informe será hecho público por el presidente de la Comisión por decisión de la Asamblea
de jefes de Estado y de gobierno.
3. El informe de las actividades de la Comisión será hecho público por su presidente tras ser considerado por
la Asamblea de jefes de Estado y de gobierno.
10
CAPITULO IV
PRINCIPIOS APLICABLES
Artículo 60
La Comisión se basará en la legislación internacional sobre derechos humanos y de los pueblos, especialmente en
las disposiciones de los diversos instrumentos africanos referentes a los derechos humanos y de los pueblos, la Carta
de las Naciones Unidas, la Carta de la Organización para la Unidad Africana, la Declaración universal de los
derechos humanos, otros instrumentos adoptados por las Naciones Unidas y por los países africanos en materia de
derechos humanos y de los pueblos, así como en las disposiciones de los diversos instrumentos adoptados por
departamentos especializados de las Naciones Unidas de los cuales los firmantes de la presente Carta sean
miembros.
Artículo 61
La Comisión también tomará en consideración como medidas subsidiarias para determinar los principios del
derecho aplicables, otros convenios generales o especiales que establezcan normas expresamente reconocidas por
los Estados miembros de la Organización para la Unidad Africana, prácticas africanas que concuerdan con las
normas internacionales relativas a los derechos humanos y de los pueblos, costumbres generalmente aceptadas como
normas, principios generales del derecho reconocidos por los Estados africanos, así como precedentes legales y
creencias.
Artículo 62
Todo Estado miembro se comprometerá a presentar cada dos años, a partir de la fecha en que la presente Carta entre
en vigor, un informe sobre las medidas legislativas o de otra índole tomadas con el fin de hacer efectivos los
derechos y libertades reconocidos y garantizados por la presente Carta.
Artículo 63
1 La presente Carta estará abierta a la firma, ratificación o adhesión de los Estados miembros de la Organización
para la Unidad Africana.
2 Los instrumentos de ratificación o adhesión a la presente Carta deberán serle presentados al secretario general
de la Organización para la Unidad Africana.
3 La presente Carta entrará en vigor tres meses después de la recepción por parte del secretario general de los
instrumentos de ratificación o adhesión de una mayoría simple de los Estados miembros de la Organización
para la Unidad Africana.
PARTE III
DISPOSICIONES GENERALES
Artículo 64
1. Tras la entrada en vigor de la presente Carta, se elegirán, de conformidad con los artículos relevantes de la
misma, los miembros de la Comisión.
2. El secretario general de la Organización para la Unidad Africana convocará la primera reunión de la
Comisión en la sede de la Organización dentro de un período de tres meses a partir de la constitución de la
Comisión. De ese momento en adelante, la Comisión será convocada por su presidente cuando sea
necesario, pero al menos una vez al año.
Artículo 65
Cada vez que un Estado ratifique o se adhiera a la presente Carta con posterioridad a su entrada en vigor, ésta será
efectiva para ese Estado tres meses después de la fecha de presentación del instrumento de ratificación o adhesión
por parte de ese Estado.
Artículo 66
Si fuera necesario, la presente Carta se complementaría mediante protocolos o acuerdos especiales.
11
Artículo 67
El secretario general de la Organización para la Unidad Africana informará a los Estados miembros de la
Organización de la presentación de cada instrumento de ratificación o adhesión.
Artículo 68
La presente Carta podrá ser enmendada si un Estado firmante presenta una solicitud escrita a tal efecto al secretario
general de la Organización para la Unidad Africana. La Asamblea de jefes de Estado y de gobierno sólo considerará
el proyecto de enmienda después de que todos los Estados firmantes hayan sido informados debidamente de él y la
Comisión haya dado su opinión a petición del Estado promotor. La enmienda será aprobada por mayoría simple de
los Estados firmantes. Esta será efectiva para todos los Estados que la hayan aceptado, de conformidad con su
procedimiento constitucional, tres meses después de la recepción por parte del secretario general de la nota de
aceptación.
jueves, 1 de enero de 2009
PROTOCOL OF THE COURT OF JUSTICE
PROTOCOL OF THE COURT OF JUSTICE
OF THE AFRICAN UNION
The Member States of the African Union:
Considering that the Constitutive Act established the Court of
Justice of the African Union;
Firmly convinced that the attainment of the objectives of the
African Union requires the establishment of the Court of Justice of
the African Union;
HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
CHAPTER I
Article 1
DEFINITIONS
In this Protocol unless otherwise specifically stated:
“Act” means the Constitutive Act of the Union;
“Assembly” means the Assembly of Heads of State and Government
of the Union;
“Commission” means the Commission of the Union;
“Court” means the Court of Justice of the Union;
“ECOSOCC” means the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of
the Union;
“Executive Council” means the Executive Council of Ministers of
the Union;
“Financial Institutions” means the Financial Institutions
established by the Constitutive Act;
“Judge” means a judge of the Court;
2
“Member State” means a Member State of the Union;
“Parliament” means the Pan-African Parliament of the Union;
“Peace and Security Council” means the Peace and Security
Council of the Union;
“President” means the President of the Court;
“Protocol” means this Protocol defining the composition, powers
and functions of the Court;
“Regions” means the geographical regions into which the continent
of Africa, at any time, is divided pursuant to a decision of the
Assembly;
“Rules of Court” means the Rules of Court under Article 58;
“Registrar” means the Registrar of the Court;
“States Parties” means the Member States that have ratified or
acceded to this Protocol;
“Union” means the African Union established by the Act;
“Vice President” means the Vice President of the Court;
Article 2
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COURT
1. The Court established by the Act shall function in accordance
with the provisions of the Act and this Protocol.
2. The Court shall be the principal judicial organ of the Union.
Article 3
COMPOSITION
1. The Court shall consist of eleven (11) Judges who are nationals of
States Parties.
3
2. The Assembly may, when it deems it necessary, review the number
of Judges.
3. The Judges shall be assisted by the necessary staff for the smooth
functioning of the Court.
4. No two (2) Judges shall be nationals of the same State Party.
5. In the Court as a whole, the representation of the principal legal
traditions of Africa shall be assured.
6. Each region shall be represented by no less than two (2) Judges.
CHAPTER II
Article 4
QUALIFICATIONS
The Court shall be composed of impartial and independent Judges
elected from among persons of high moral character, who possess the
necessary qualifications required in their respective countries for
appointment to the highest judicial offices, or are jurists of recognized
competence in international law.
Article 5
SUBMISSION OF CANDIDATES
1. Upon entry into force of this Protocol, the Chairperson of the
Commission shall request each State Party to submit in writing within
ninety (90) days of such a request, its nomination for the office of a
Judge of the Court.
2. Each State Party may nominate only one (1) candidate having the
qualifications prescribed in Article 4 of this Protocol.
3. Due consideration shall be given to adequate gender
representation in the nomination process.
Article 6
LIST OF CANDIDATES
The Chairperson of the Commission shall prepare a list of the
candidates nominated, in alphabetical order and transmit it to the
Member States at least thirty (30) days prior to the ordinary session of
4
Member States at least thirty (30) days prior to the ordinary session of
the Assembly at which the Judges are to be elected.
Article 7
ELECTION OF JUDGES OF THE COURT
1. The Assembly shall elect the Judges by secret ballot and by two-
thirds majority of the Member States eligible to vote.
2. Where one or more candidates fail to obtain the two-thirds
majority required for an election, the balloting shall continue until the
required number of Judges has been elected. However, the next
ballots shall be restricted to the candidates who obtain the greatest
number of votes.
3. In the election of the Judges, the Assembly shall ensure that there
is equal gender representation.
Article 8
TENURE OF OFFICE
1. The Judges shall be elected for a period of six (6) years and may be
re-elected only once. The term of five (5) Judges elected at the first
election shall expire at the end of four (4) years and the other Judges
shall serve the full term.
2. The Judges whose terms are to expire at the end of the initial
period of four (4) years shall be chosen by lot to be drawn by the
Chairperson of the Assembly immediately after the first election has
been completed.
3. A Judge elected to replace another Judge whose term of office has
not expired shall be from the same region and shall hold office for the
remainder of the predecessor's term.
Article 9
OATH OF OFFICE
1. Before taking up his or her duties each Judge shall in open court
take the following oath:
5
“I ……………………. Do solemnly swear (or affirm or
declare) that I shall faithfully exercise the duties of my
office as Judge of the Court of Justice of the African Union
impartially and conscientiously, without fear or favour,
affection or illwill and that I will preserve the secrecy of the
deliberations of the Court.”
2. The oath of office shall be administered by the Chairperson of the
Assembly or his or her duly authorized representative.
Article 10
PRESIDENCY OF THE COURT
1. The Court shall elect its President and Vice-President for a period
of three (3) years. The President and Vice-President may be re-elected
once.
2. The President shall reside at the seat of the Court.
3. The modalities for elections of the President and the Vice-President
and their functions shall be set out in the Rules of Court.
Article 11
RESIGNATION, SUSPENSION AND REMOVAL FROM OFFICE
1. A Judge may resign his or her position in writing addressed to the
President for transmission to the Chairperson of the Assembly.
2. A Judge shall not be suspended or removed from office save
where, on the unanimous recommendation of the other Judges, he or
she no longer fulfils the requisite conditions to be a Judge.
3. The President shall communicate the recommendation for the
suspension or removal of a judge to the Chairperson of the Assembly
and the Chairperson of the Commission.
4. Such a recommendation of the Court shall become final upon its
adoption by the Assembly.
6
Article 12
VACANCIES
1. A vacancy shall arise in the Court under the following
circumstances:
(a) death;
(b) resignation;
(c) removal from office.
2. In the case of death or resignation of a Judge, the President shall
immediately inform the Chairperson of the Assembly in writing, who
shall declare the seat vacant.
3. The same procedure and consideration for the election of a Judge
shall also be followed in filling vacancies.
Article 13
INDEPENDENCE
1. The independence of the Judges shall be fully ensured in
accordance with international law.
2. No Judge may participate in the decision of any case in which he
or she has previously taken part as agent, counsel or advocate for one
of the parties, or as a member of a national or international court, or
commission of inquiry, or in any other capacity.
3. Any doubt on this point shall be settled by decision of the Court.
Article 14
PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES
1. The Judges shall enjoy, from the time of their election and
throughout their term of office, the full privileges and immunities
extended to diplomatic agents in accordance with international law.
2. The Judges shall be immune from legal proceedings for any act or
omission committed in the discharge of their judicial functions.
3. The Judges shall continue, after they have ceased to hold office, to
enjoy immunity in respect of acts performed by them when engaged in
their official capacity.
7
Article 15
INCOMPATIBILITY
1. The position of a Judge shall be incompatible with any activity that
might interfere with the independence or impartiality of such a judge
or the demands of the office, as determined in the Rules of Court.
2. Any doubt on this point shall be settled by the Court.
Article 16
QUORUM
1. The full Court shall sit except where it is expressly provided
otherwise in this Protocol;
2. Except when sitting in Chamber, the Court shall only examine
cases brought before it, if it has a quorum of at least seven (7) Judges;
3. The quorum for a Special Chamber shall be set out in the Rules of
Court.
Article 17
REMUNERATION OF JUDGES
1. A Judge shall receive an annual allowance and, for each day on
which he or she exercises his or her functions, a special allowance,
provided that in any year the total sum payable to any Judge as
special allowance shall not exceed the amount of the annual
allowance.
2. The President shall receive an additional special annual allowance.
3. The Vice-President shall receive an additional special allowance for
each day on which he or she acts as President.
4. The allowances shall be determined from time to time by the
Assembly upon the recommendation of the Executive Council, taking
into account the workload of the Court. They may not be decreased
during the term of office.
8
5. Regulations adopted by the Assembly upon the recommendation of
the Executive Council shall determine the conditions under which
retirement pensions shall be given to the Judges and the terms and
conditions under which their travel expenses shall be paid or
refunded.
6. The allowances shall be free of all taxation.
Article 18
ELIGIBILITY TO SUBMIT CASES
1. The following are entitled to submit cases to the Court:
(a) States Parties to this Protocol;
(b) The Assembly, the Parliament and other organs of the Union
authorised by the Assembly;
(c) The Commission or a member of staff of the Commission in a
dispute between them within the limits and under the
conditions laid down in the Staff Rules and Regulations of
the Union;
(d) Third Parties under conditions to be determined by the
Assembly and with the consent of the State Party concerned.
2. The conditions under which the Court shall be open to third
parties shall, subject to the special provisions contained in treaties in
force, be laid down by the Assembly, but in no case shall such
conditions place the parties in a position of inequality before the Court.
3. The States which are not members of the Union shall not be
allowed to submit cases to the Court. The Court shall have no
jurisdiction to deal with a dispute involving a Member State that has
not ratified this Protocol.
Article 19
COMPETENCE/JURISDICTION
1. The Court shall have jurisdiction over all disputes and
applications referred to it in accordance with the Act and this Protocol
which relate to:
(a) the interpretation and application of the Act;
(b) the interpretation, application or validity of Union treaties
and all subsidiary legal instruments adopted within the
framework of the Union;
9
(c) any question of international law;
(d) all acts, decisions, regulations and directives of the organs
of the Union;
(e) all matters specifically provided for in any other agreements
that States Parties may conclude among themselves or with
the Union and which confer jurisdiction on the Court;
(f) the existence of any fact which, if established, would
constitute a breach of an obligation owed to a State Party or
to the Union;
(g) the nature or extent of the reparation to be made for the
breach of an obligation.
2. The Assembly may confer on the Court power to assume
jurisdiction over any dispute other than those referred to in this
Article.
CHAPTER III
Article 20
SOURCES OF LAW
1. The Court, whose function is to decide in accordance with
international law such disputes, as are submitted to it, shall have
regard to:
(a) The Act;
(b) International treaties whether general or particular,
establishing rules expressly recognized by the contesting
states;
(c) International custom, as evidence of a general practice
accepted as law;
(d) The general principles of law recognized universally or by
African States;
(e) Subject to Article 37 of this Protocol, judicial decisions and
the writings of the most highly qualified publicists of various
nations as well as the regulations, directives and decisions of
the Union as subsidiary means for the determination of the
rules of law.
2. This provision shall not prejudice the power of the Court to decide
a case ex aequo et bono, if the parties, agree thereto.
10
CHAPTER IV
Article 21
SUBMISSION OF A DISPUTE
1. Disputes shall be submitted to the Court by a written application
to the Registrar. The subject of the dispute, the applicable law and
basis of the jurisdiction shall be indicated.
2. The Registrar shall forthwith give notice of the application to all
concerned parties.
3. The Registrar shall also notify all Member States, the Chairperson
of the Commission and any third parties entitled to appear before the
Court.
Article 22
PROVISIONAL MEASURES
1. The Court shall have the power, on its own motion or on
application by the parties, to indicate, if it considers that
circumstances so require any provisional measures which ought to be
taken to preserve the respective rights of the parties.
2. Pending the final decision, notice of the provisional measures shall
forthwith be given to the parties and to the Chairperson of the
Commission.
Article 23
REPRESENTATION OF PARTIES
1. The parties may be represented before the Court by agents.
2. An agent or party may have the assistance of counsel or advocate
before the Court.
3. The organs of the Union, where relevant, shall be represented by
the Chairperson of the Commission or his or her representative.
4. The agents, counsel and advocates of the parties before the Court
shall enjoy the privileges and immunities necessary to the independent
exercise of their duties.
11
Article 24
PROCEDURE BEFORE THE COURT
1. The procedure before the Court shall consist of two parts: written
and oral.
2. The written procedure shall consist of the communications to the
Court, the parties and the institutions of the Union whose decisions
are in dispute, of applications, statements of the case, defences and
observations and of replies if any, as well as all papers and documents
in support, or of certified copies thereof.
3. The communications shall be made through the Registrar, in the
order and time fixed by the Court either in the Rules or the case.
4. A certified copy of every document produced by one party shall be
communicated to the other party.
5. The oral proceedings shall, if necessary, consist of hearing by the
Court of witnesses, experts, agents, counsels and advocates.
Article 25
SERVICE OF NOTICE
1. For the service of all notices upon persons other than parties,
agents, counsel and advocates, the Court shall apply direct to the
government of the State upon whose territory the notice has to be
served.
2. The same provision shall apply whenever steps are to be taken to
procure evidence locally in the territory of the State concerned.
Article 26
PUBLIC HEARING
The hearing in Court shall be public, unless the Court, on its own
motion or upon application by the parties, decides that the public not
be admitted.
12
Article 27
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
1. A record of proceedings shall be made at each hearing and shall be
signed by the presiding Judge and the Registrar of the session.
2. Such a record shall be kept by the Registrar and shall be the
authentic record of the case.
Article 28
REGULATION OF PROCEEDINGS
1. The Court shall have the power to regulate its own proceedings. It
shall have the power to make orders for the conduct of the case before
it.
2. It shall decide the form and time in which each party must
conclude its arguments, and make all arrangements connected with
the taking of evidence.
Article 29
PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS
The Court may, before the hearing begins, call upon the agents to
produce any relevant document or to supply any relevant explanation.
Formal note shall be taken of any refusal to produce documents or
supply an explanation requested by it.
Article 30
ENQUIRIES
The Court may, at any time, entrust any individual, body, bureau,
commission, or other organisation that it may select, and accepted by
the parties to the dispute, with the task of carrying out an enquiry or
giving an expert opinion.
Article 31
REFUSAL OF EVIDENCE
After the Court has received the proofs and evidence within the time
specified for the purpose, it may, unless it decides that the interests of
justice so require, refuse to accept any further oral or written evidence
that any party may desire to present.
13
Article 32
DEFAULT JUDGMENTS
1. Whenever one of the parties does not appear before the Court, or
fails to defend the case against it, the other party may call upon the
Court to give its judgment.
2. The Court must before doing so, satisfy itself, not only that it has
jurisdiction in accordance with Article 19, but also that the claim is
well founded in fact and in law and that the other party had due
notice.
3. An objection by the party concerned may be lodged against the
judgment within ninety (90) days of it being notified of the default
judgment. The objection shall not have the effect of staying the
enforcement of the judgment by default
Article 33
CONSIDERATION OF THE JUDGMENT
1. When, subject to the control of the Court, the agent, counsel and
advocates have completed their submissions of the case, the President
shall declare the hearing closed.
2. The Court shall adjourn to consider its judgment.
3. The deliberations of the Court shall take place in private and shall
remain secret at all times.
Article 34
MAJORITY NECESSARY FOR DECISION
1. All questions shall be decided by a majority of the Judges present.
2. In the event of equality of votes, the presiding Judge shall have a
casting vote.
14
Article 35
JUDGMENT
1. The judgment shall state the reasons on which it is based.
2. The judgment shall state the names of Judges who have taken part
in the decision.
3. The judgment shall be signed by all the Judges and certified by the
President and the Registrar. It shall be read in open session, due
notice having been given to the agents.
4. Subject to Article 32 and 41 of this Protocol, the judgment shall be
final.
Article 36
SEPARATE OR DISSENTING OPINION
If the judgment does not represent in whole or in part the unanimous
opinion of the Judges, any Judge shall be entitled to deliver a separate
or dissenting opinion.
Article 37
BINDING FORCE OF JUDGMENTS
The judgments of the Court shall be binding on the parties and in
respect of that particular case.
Article 38
DECISIONS ON INTERPRETATION AND APPLICATION OF THE ACT
1. Decisions of the Court on the interpretation and application of the
Act shall be binding on Member States and organs of the Union
notwithstanding the provisions of Article 37 of this Protocol.
2. Whenever questions of interpretation of the Act arise in a case in
which States other than those concerned have expressed an interest,
the Registrar shall notify all such States and organs of the Union
forthwith.
15
3. Every Member State and organ of the Union so notified has the
right to intervene in the proceedings.
4. Any decision taken in application of Articles 38 and 39 of this
Protocol shall be by a qualified majority of at least two (2) votes and in
the presence of at least nine (9) Judges.
Article 39
INTERPRETATION OF OTHER TREATIES
1. Whenever the question of interpretation of a treaty arises in a case
in which States other than those concerned have expressed an
interest, the Registrar shall notify all such States and organs of the
Union forthwith.
2. Every State Party and organ of the Union so notified has the right
to intervene in the proceedings and the interpretation given by the
judgment will be equally binding upon it.
Article 40
INTERPRETATION OF A JUDGEMENT
In the event of any dispute as to the meaning or scope of the
judgment, the Court shall construe it upon the request of any of the
parties.
Article 41
REVISION
1. An application for revision of a judgment may be made only when
it is based upon discovery of a new fact of such nature as to be a
decisive factor, which fact was, when the judgment was given,
unknown to the Court and also to the party claiming revision,
provided that such ignorance was not due to negligence.
2. The proceedings for revision shall be opened by a ruling of the
Court expressly recording the existence of the new fact, recognizing
that it has such a character as to lay the case open to revision, and
declaring the revision admissible on this ground.
3. The Court may require prior compliance with the terms of the
judgment before it admits proceedings in revision.
16
4. The application for revision shall be made within six (6) months of
the discovery of the new fact.
5. No application may be made after the lapse of ten (10) years from
the date of the judgment.
Article 42
INTERVENTION
1. Any Member State that has an interest of a legal nature, which
may be affected by the decision in the case, may submit a request to
the Court to be permitted to intervene.
2. The Court shall decide upon the request.
Article 43
COSTS
Unless otherwise decided by the Court, each party shall bear its own
costs.
Article 44
ADVISORY OPINION
1. The Court may give an advisory opinion on any legal question at
the request of the Assembly, the Parliament, the Executive Council,
the Peace and Security Council, the ECOSOCC, any of the Financial
Institutions, a Regional Economic Community or such other organs of
the Union as may be authorized by the Assembly.
2. A request for an advisory opinion under paragraph 1 of this Article
shall be in writing and shall contain an exact statement of the question
upon which the opinion is required and shall be accompanied by all
relevant documents.
CHAPTER V
Article 45
PROCEDURE FOR AMENDMENTS
1. This Protocol may be amended if a State Party makes a written
request to that effect to the Chairperson of the Assembly.
17
2. Proposals for amendment shall be submitted to the Chairperson of
the Commission who shall transmit same to Member States within
thirty (30) days of receipt thereof.
3. The Assembly may adopt by a simple majority, the draft
amendment after the Court has given its opinion on the amendment.
Article 46
POWER OF THE COURT TO PROPOSE AMENDMENTS
The Court shall have the power to propose such amendments to this
Protocol as it may deem necessary to the Assembly through written
communication to the Chairperson of the Commission for
consideration in conformity with Article 45 of this Protocol.
CHAPTER VI
Article 47
SEAT AND SEAL OF THE COURT
1. The seat of the Court shall be determined by the Assembly from
among States Parties. However, the Court may sit in any other
Member State if circumstances warrant and with the consent of the
Member State concerned. The seat of the Court may be changed by the
Assembly after due consultations with the Court.
2. The Court shall have a seal bearing the inscription “The Court of
Justice of the African Union”.
CHAPTER VII
Article 48
APPOINTMENT OF REGISTRAR
1. The Court shall appoint the Registrar and Deputy Registrar(s) from
amongst candidates proposed by the Judges of the Court, as it
considers necessary, in accordance with the Rules of Court.
2. The Registrar and Deputy Registrar(s) shall be elected for a term of
four (4) years. They may be re-appointed once. They shall reside at
the seat of the Court.
18
3. The salary and conditions of service of the Registrar and Deputy
Registrar(s) shall be determined by the Assembly upon
recommendation of the Court through the Executive Council.
Article 49
APPOINTMENT AND TERMS OF SERVICE OF OTHER STAFF
1. The Court shall employ such staff as may be required to enable the
Court to perform its functions and who shall hold office in the service
of the Court.
2. The salary and other allowances of the other staff of the Court shall
be determined by the Assembly upon the recommendation of the Court
through the Executive Council.
Article 50
OFFICIAL LANGUAGES OF THE COURT
The official and working languages of the Court shall be those of the
Union.
CHAPTER VIII
Article 51
EXECUTION OF JUDGMENT
The State Parties shall comply with the judgment in any dispute to
which they are parties within the time stipulated by the Court and
shall guarantee its execution.
Article 52
NON-COMPLIANCE WITH JUDGMENT
1. Where a party has failed to comply with a judgment, the Court
may, upon application by either party, refer the matter to the
Assembly, which may decide upon measures to be taken to give effect
to the judgment.
2. The Assembly may impose sanctions under paragraph 2 of Article
23 of the Act.
19
Article 53
REPORT TO THE ASSEMBLY
The Court shall submit to each ordinary session of the Assembly, a
report on its work during the previous year. The report shall specify, in
particular, the cases in which a State has not complied with the
Court’s judgment.
CHAPTER IX
Article 54
BUDGET
1. The Court shall elaborate its draft annual budget and shall submit
it to the Assembly through the Executive Council.
2. The budget of the Court shall be borne by the Member States.
Article 55
SUMMARY PROCEDURE
With a view to the speedy dispatch of business, the Court shall form
annually a chamber composed of five (5) Judges, which, at the request
of the parties, may hear and determine cases by summary procedure in
accordance with the Rules of Court. In addition, two (2) Judges shall
be selected from among themselves for the purpose of replacing Judges
who find it impossible to sit.
Article 56
SPECIAL CHAMBERS
The Court may from time to time form one or more chambers,
composed of three (3) or more Judges as the Court may determine, for
dealing with particular categories of cases.
Article 57
JUDGMENT GIVEN BY A CHAMBER
A judgment given by any of the chambers provided for in Articles 55
and 56 of this Protocol shall be considered as rendered by the Court.
20
CHAPTER X
Article 58
RULES OF COURT
The Court shall frame rules for carrying out its functions and generally
for giving effect to this Protocol. In particular, it shall lay down rules of
procedure in conformity with this Protocol.
Article 59
SIGNATURE, RATIFICATION AND ACCESSION
1. This Protocol shall be open to signature, ratification and accession
by Member States in accordance with their respective constitutional
procedures.
2. The instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the
Chairperson of the Commission.
3. Any Member State acceding to this Protocol after its entry into force
shall deposit the instrument of accession with the Chairperson of the
Commission.
Article 60
ENTRY INTO FORCE
This Protocol shall enter into force thirty (30) days after the deposit of
the instruments of ratification by fifteen (15) Member States.
Adopted by the 2nd Ordinary Session
of the Assembly of the Union
11 July 2003
OF THE AFRICAN UNION
The Member States of the African Union:
Considering that the Constitutive Act established the Court of
Justice of the African Union;
Firmly convinced that the attainment of the objectives of the
African Union requires the establishment of the Court of Justice of
the African Union;
HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
CHAPTER I
Article 1
DEFINITIONS
In this Protocol unless otherwise specifically stated:
“Act” means the Constitutive Act of the Union;
“Assembly” means the Assembly of Heads of State and Government
of the Union;
“Commission” means the Commission of the Union;
“Court” means the Court of Justice of the Union;
“ECOSOCC” means the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of
the Union;
“Executive Council” means the Executive Council of Ministers of
the Union;
“Financial Institutions” means the Financial Institutions
established by the Constitutive Act;
“Judge” means a judge of the Court;
2
“Member State” means a Member State of the Union;
“Parliament” means the Pan-African Parliament of the Union;
“Peace and Security Council” means the Peace and Security
Council of the Union;
“President” means the President of the Court;
“Protocol” means this Protocol defining the composition, powers
and functions of the Court;
“Regions” means the geographical regions into which the continent
of Africa, at any time, is divided pursuant to a decision of the
Assembly;
“Rules of Court” means the Rules of Court under Article 58;
“Registrar” means the Registrar of the Court;
“States Parties” means the Member States that have ratified or
acceded to this Protocol;
“Union” means the African Union established by the Act;
“Vice President” means the Vice President of the Court;
Article 2
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COURT
1. The Court established by the Act shall function in accordance
with the provisions of the Act and this Protocol.
2. The Court shall be the principal judicial organ of the Union.
Article 3
COMPOSITION
1. The Court shall consist of eleven (11) Judges who are nationals of
States Parties.
3
2. The Assembly may, when it deems it necessary, review the number
of Judges.
3. The Judges shall be assisted by the necessary staff for the smooth
functioning of the Court.
4. No two (2) Judges shall be nationals of the same State Party.
5. In the Court as a whole, the representation of the principal legal
traditions of Africa shall be assured.
6. Each region shall be represented by no less than two (2) Judges.
CHAPTER II
Article 4
QUALIFICATIONS
The Court shall be composed of impartial and independent Judges
elected from among persons of high moral character, who possess the
necessary qualifications required in their respective countries for
appointment to the highest judicial offices, or are jurists of recognized
competence in international law.
Article 5
SUBMISSION OF CANDIDATES
1. Upon entry into force of this Protocol, the Chairperson of the
Commission shall request each State Party to submit in writing within
ninety (90) days of such a request, its nomination for the office of a
Judge of the Court.
2. Each State Party may nominate only one (1) candidate having the
qualifications prescribed in Article 4 of this Protocol.
3. Due consideration shall be given to adequate gender
representation in the nomination process.
Article 6
LIST OF CANDIDATES
The Chairperson of the Commission shall prepare a list of the
candidates nominated, in alphabetical order and transmit it to the
Member States at least thirty (30) days prior to the ordinary session of
4
Member States at least thirty (30) days prior to the ordinary session of
the Assembly at which the Judges are to be elected.
Article 7
ELECTION OF JUDGES OF THE COURT
1. The Assembly shall elect the Judges by secret ballot and by two-
thirds majority of the Member States eligible to vote.
2. Where one or more candidates fail to obtain the two-thirds
majority required for an election, the balloting shall continue until the
required number of Judges has been elected. However, the next
ballots shall be restricted to the candidates who obtain the greatest
number of votes.
3. In the election of the Judges, the Assembly shall ensure that there
is equal gender representation.
Article 8
TENURE OF OFFICE
1. The Judges shall be elected for a period of six (6) years and may be
re-elected only once. The term of five (5) Judges elected at the first
election shall expire at the end of four (4) years and the other Judges
shall serve the full term.
2. The Judges whose terms are to expire at the end of the initial
period of four (4) years shall be chosen by lot to be drawn by the
Chairperson of the Assembly immediately after the first election has
been completed.
3. A Judge elected to replace another Judge whose term of office has
not expired shall be from the same region and shall hold office for the
remainder of the predecessor's term.
Article 9
OATH OF OFFICE
1. Before taking up his or her duties each Judge shall in open court
take the following oath:
5
“I ……………………. Do solemnly swear (or affirm or
declare) that I shall faithfully exercise the duties of my
office as Judge of the Court of Justice of the African Union
impartially and conscientiously, without fear or favour,
affection or illwill and that I will preserve the secrecy of the
deliberations of the Court.”
2. The oath of office shall be administered by the Chairperson of the
Assembly or his or her duly authorized representative.
Article 10
PRESIDENCY OF THE COURT
1. The Court shall elect its President and Vice-President for a period
of three (3) years. The President and Vice-President may be re-elected
once.
2. The President shall reside at the seat of the Court.
3. The modalities for elections of the President and the Vice-President
and their functions shall be set out in the Rules of Court.
Article 11
RESIGNATION, SUSPENSION AND REMOVAL FROM OFFICE
1. A Judge may resign his or her position in writing addressed to the
President for transmission to the Chairperson of the Assembly.
2. A Judge shall not be suspended or removed from office save
where, on the unanimous recommendation of the other Judges, he or
she no longer fulfils the requisite conditions to be a Judge.
3. The President shall communicate the recommendation for the
suspension or removal of a judge to the Chairperson of the Assembly
and the Chairperson of the Commission.
4. Such a recommendation of the Court shall become final upon its
adoption by the Assembly.
6
Article 12
VACANCIES
1. A vacancy shall arise in the Court under the following
circumstances:
(a) death;
(b) resignation;
(c) removal from office.
2. In the case of death or resignation of a Judge, the President shall
immediately inform the Chairperson of the Assembly in writing, who
shall declare the seat vacant.
3. The same procedure and consideration for the election of a Judge
shall also be followed in filling vacancies.
Article 13
INDEPENDENCE
1. The independence of the Judges shall be fully ensured in
accordance with international law.
2. No Judge may participate in the decision of any case in which he
or she has previously taken part as agent, counsel or advocate for one
of the parties, or as a member of a national or international court, or
commission of inquiry, or in any other capacity.
3. Any doubt on this point shall be settled by decision of the Court.
Article 14
PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES
1. The Judges shall enjoy, from the time of their election and
throughout their term of office, the full privileges and immunities
extended to diplomatic agents in accordance with international law.
2. The Judges shall be immune from legal proceedings for any act or
omission committed in the discharge of their judicial functions.
3. The Judges shall continue, after they have ceased to hold office, to
enjoy immunity in respect of acts performed by them when engaged in
their official capacity.
7
Article 15
INCOMPATIBILITY
1. The position of a Judge shall be incompatible with any activity that
might interfere with the independence or impartiality of such a judge
or the demands of the office, as determined in the Rules of Court.
2. Any doubt on this point shall be settled by the Court.
Article 16
QUORUM
1. The full Court shall sit except where it is expressly provided
otherwise in this Protocol;
2. Except when sitting in Chamber, the Court shall only examine
cases brought before it, if it has a quorum of at least seven (7) Judges;
3. The quorum for a Special Chamber shall be set out in the Rules of
Court.
Article 17
REMUNERATION OF JUDGES
1. A Judge shall receive an annual allowance and, for each day on
which he or she exercises his or her functions, a special allowance,
provided that in any year the total sum payable to any Judge as
special allowance shall not exceed the amount of the annual
allowance.
2. The President shall receive an additional special annual allowance.
3. The Vice-President shall receive an additional special allowance for
each day on which he or she acts as President.
4. The allowances shall be determined from time to time by the
Assembly upon the recommendation of the Executive Council, taking
into account the workload of the Court. They may not be decreased
during the term of office.
8
5. Regulations adopted by the Assembly upon the recommendation of
the Executive Council shall determine the conditions under which
retirement pensions shall be given to the Judges and the terms and
conditions under which their travel expenses shall be paid or
refunded.
6. The allowances shall be free of all taxation.
Article 18
ELIGIBILITY TO SUBMIT CASES
1. The following are entitled to submit cases to the Court:
(a) States Parties to this Protocol;
(b) The Assembly, the Parliament and other organs of the Union
authorised by the Assembly;
(c) The Commission or a member of staff of the Commission in a
dispute between them within the limits and under the
conditions laid down in the Staff Rules and Regulations of
the Union;
(d) Third Parties under conditions to be determined by the
Assembly and with the consent of the State Party concerned.
2. The conditions under which the Court shall be open to third
parties shall, subject to the special provisions contained in treaties in
force, be laid down by the Assembly, but in no case shall such
conditions place the parties in a position of inequality before the Court.
3. The States which are not members of the Union shall not be
allowed to submit cases to the Court. The Court shall have no
jurisdiction to deal with a dispute involving a Member State that has
not ratified this Protocol.
Article 19
COMPETENCE/JURISDICTION
1. The Court shall have jurisdiction over all disputes and
applications referred to it in accordance with the Act and this Protocol
which relate to:
(a) the interpretation and application of the Act;
(b) the interpretation, application or validity of Union treaties
and all subsidiary legal instruments adopted within the
framework of the Union;
9
(c) any question of international law;
(d) all acts, decisions, regulations and directives of the organs
of the Union;
(e) all matters specifically provided for in any other agreements
that States Parties may conclude among themselves or with
the Union and which confer jurisdiction on the Court;
(f) the existence of any fact which, if established, would
constitute a breach of an obligation owed to a State Party or
to the Union;
(g) the nature or extent of the reparation to be made for the
breach of an obligation.
2. The Assembly may confer on the Court power to assume
jurisdiction over any dispute other than those referred to in this
Article.
CHAPTER III
Article 20
SOURCES OF LAW
1. The Court, whose function is to decide in accordance with
international law such disputes, as are submitted to it, shall have
regard to:
(a) The Act;
(b) International treaties whether general or particular,
establishing rules expressly recognized by the contesting
states;
(c) International custom, as evidence of a general practice
accepted as law;
(d) The general principles of law recognized universally or by
African States;
(e) Subject to Article 37 of this Protocol, judicial decisions and
the writings of the most highly qualified publicists of various
nations as well as the regulations, directives and decisions of
the Union as subsidiary means for the determination of the
rules of law.
2. This provision shall not prejudice the power of the Court to decide
a case ex aequo et bono, if the parties, agree thereto.
10
CHAPTER IV
Article 21
SUBMISSION OF A DISPUTE
1. Disputes shall be submitted to the Court by a written application
to the Registrar. The subject of the dispute, the applicable law and
basis of the jurisdiction shall be indicated.
2. The Registrar shall forthwith give notice of the application to all
concerned parties.
3. The Registrar shall also notify all Member States, the Chairperson
of the Commission and any third parties entitled to appear before the
Court.
Article 22
PROVISIONAL MEASURES
1. The Court shall have the power, on its own motion or on
application by the parties, to indicate, if it considers that
circumstances so require any provisional measures which ought to be
taken to preserve the respective rights of the parties.
2. Pending the final decision, notice of the provisional measures shall
forthwith be given to the parties and to the Chairperson of the
Commission.
Article 23
REPRESENTATION OF PARTIES
1. The parties may be represented before the Court by agents.
2. An agent or party may have the assistance of counsel or advocate
before the Court.
3. The organs of the Union, where relevant, shall be represented by
the Chairperson of the Commission or his or her representative.
4. The agents, counsel and advocates of the parties before the Court
shall enjoy the privileges and immunities necessary to the independent
exercise of their duties.
11
Article 24
PROCEDURE BEFORE THE COURT
1. The procedure before the Court shall consist of two parts: written
and oral.
2. The written procedure shall consist of the communications to the
Court, the parties and the institutions of the Union whose decisions
are in dispute, of applications, statements of the case, defences and
observations and of replies if any, as well as all papers and documents
in support, or of certified copies thereof.
3. The communications shall be made through the Registrar, in the
order and time fixed by the Court either in the Rules or the case.
4. A certified copy of every document produced by one party shall be
communicated to the other party.
5. The oral proceedings shall, if necessary, consist of hearing by the
Court of witnesses, experts, agents, counsels and advocates.
Article 25
SERVICE OF NOTICE
1. For the service of all notices upon persons other than parties,
agents, counsel and advocates, the Court shall apply direct to the
government of the State upon whose territory the notice has to be
served.
2. The same provision shall apply whenever steps are to be taken to
procure evidence locally in the territory of the State concerned.
Article 26
PUBLIC HEARING
The hearing in Court shall be public, unless the Court, on its own
motion or upon application by the parties, decides that the public not
be admitted.
12
Article 27
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
1. A record of proceedings shall be made at each hearing and shall be
signed by the presiding Judge and the Registrar of the session.
2. Such a record shall be kept by the Registrar and shall be the
authentic record of the case.
Article 28
REGULATION OF PROCEEDINGS
1. The Court shall have the power to regulate its own proceedings. It
shall have the power to make orders for the conduct of the case before
it.
2. It shall decide the form and time in which each party must
conclude its arguments, and make all arrangements connected with
the taking of evidence.
Article 29
PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS
The Court may, before the hearing begins, call upon the agents to
produce any relevant document or to supply any relevant explanation.
Formal note shall be taken of any refusal to produce documents or
supply an explanation requested by it.
Article 30
ENQUIRIES
The Court may, at any time, entrust any individual, body, bureau,
commission, or other organisation that it may select, and accepted by
the parties to the dispute, with the task of carrying out an enquiry or
giving an expert opinion.
Article 31
REFUSAL OF EVIDENCE
After the Court has received the proofs and evidence within the time
specified for the purpose, it may, unless it decides that the interests of
justice so require, refuse to accept any further oral or written evidence
that any party may desire to present.
13
Article 32
DEFAULT JUDGMENTS
1. Whenever one of the parties does not appear before the Court, or
fails to defend the case against it, the other party may call upon the
Court to give its judgment.
2. The Court must before doing so, satisfy itself, not only that it has
jurisdiction in accordance with Article 19, but also that the claim is
well founded in fact and in law and that the other party had due
notice.
3. An objection by the party concerned may be lodged against the
judgment within ninety (90) days of it being notified of the default
judgment. The objection shall not have the effect of staying the
enforcement of the judgment by default
Article 33
CONSIDERATION OF THE JUDGMENT
1. When, subject to the control of the Court, the agent, counsel and
advocates have completed their submissions of the case, the President
shall declare the hearing closed.
2. The Court shall adjourn to consider its judgment.
3. The deliberations of the Court shall take place in private and shall
remain secret at all times.
Article 34
MAJORITY NECESSARY FOR DECISION
1. All questions shall be decided by a majority of the Judges present.
2. In the event of equality of votes, the presiding Judge shall have a
casting vote.
14
Article 35
JUDGMENT
1. The judgment shall state the reasons on which it is based.
2. The judgment shall state the names of Judges who have taken part
in the decision.
3. The judgment shall be signed by all the Judges and certified by the
President and the Registrar. It shall be read in open session, due
notice having been given to the agents.
4. Subject to Article 32 and 41 of this Protocol, the judgment shall be
final.
Article 36
SEPARATE OR DISSENTING OPINION
If the judgment does not represent in whole or in part the unanimous
opinion of the Judges, any Judge shall be entitled to deliver a separate
or dissenting opinion.
Article 37
BINDING FORCE OF JUDGMENTS
The judgments of the Court shall be binding on the parties and in
respect of that particular case.
Article 38
DECISIONS ON INTERPRETATION AND APPLICATION OF THE ACT
1. Decisions of the Court on the interpretation and application of the
Act shall be binding on Member States and organs of the Union
notwithstanding the provisions of Article 37 of this Protocol.
2. Whenever questions of interpretation of the Act arise in a case in
which States other than those concerned have expressed an interest,
the Registrar shall notify all such States and organs of the Union
forthwith.
15
3. Every Member State and organ of the Union so notified has the
right to intervene in the proceedings.
4. Any decision taken in application of Articles 38 and 39 of this
Protocol shall be by a qualified majority of at least two (2) votes and in
the presence of at least nine (9) Judges.
Article 39
INTERPRETATION OF OTHER TREATIES
1. Whenever the question of interpretation of a treaty arises in a case
in which States other than those concerned have expressed an
interest, the Registrar shall notify all such States and organs of the
Union forthwith.
2. Every State Party and organ of the Union so notified has the right
to intervene in the proceedings and the interpretation given by the
judgment will be equally binding upon it.
Article 40
INTERPRETATION OF A JUDGEMENT
In the event of any dispute as to the meaning or scope of the
judgment, the Court shall construe it upon the request of any of the
parties.
Article 41
REVISION
1. An application for revision of a judgment may be made only when
it is based upon discovery of a new fact of such nature as to be a
decisive factor, which fact was, when the judgment was given,
unknown to the Court and also to the party claiming revision,
provided that such ignorance was not due to negligence.
2. The proceedings for revision shall be opened by a ruling of the
Court expressly recording the existence of the new fact, recognizing
that it has such a character as to lay the case open to revision, and
declaring the revision admissible on this ground.
3. The Court may require prior compliance with the terms of the
judgment before it admits proceedings in revision.
16
4. The application for revision shall be made within six (6) months of
the discovery of the new fact.
5. No application may be made after the lapse of ten (10) years from
the date of the judgment.
Article 42
INTERVENTION
1. Any Member State that has an interest of a legal nature, which
may be affected by the decision in the case, may submit a request to
the Court to be permitted to intervene.
2. The Court shall decide upon the request.
Article 43
COSTS
Unless otherwise decided by the Court, each party shall bear its own
costs.
Article 44
ADVISORY OPINION
1. The Court may give an advisory opinion on any legal question at
the request of the Assembly, the Parliament, the Executive Council,
the Peace and Security Council, the ECOSOCC, any of the Financial
Institutions, a Regional Economic Community or such other organs of
the Union as may be authorized by the Assembly.
2. A request for an advisory opinion under paragraph 1 of this Article
shall be in writing and shall contain an exact statement of the question
upon which the opinion is required and shall be accompanied by all
relevant documents.
CHAPTER V
Article 45
PROCEDURE FOR AMENDMENTS
1. This Protocol may be amended if a State Party makes a written
request to that effect to the Chairperson of the Assembly.
17
2. Proposals for amendment shall be submitted to the Chairperson of
the Commission who shall transmit same to Member States within
thirty (30) days of receipt thereof.
3. The Assembly may adopt by a simple majority, the draft
amendment after the Court has given its opinion on the amendment.
Article 46
POWER OF THE COURT TO PROPOSE AMENDMENTS
The Court shall have the power to propose such amendments to this
Protocol as it may deem necessary to the Assembly through written
communication to the Chairperson of the Commission for
consideration in conformity with Article 45 of this Protocol.
CHAPTER VI
Article 47
SEAT AND SEAL OF THE COURT
1. The seat of the Court shall be determined by the Assembly from
among States Parties. However, the Court may sit in any other
Member State if circumstances warrant and with the consent of the
Member State concerned. The seat of the Court may be changed by the
Assembly after due consultations with the Court.
2. The Court shall have a seal bearing the inscription “The Court of
Justice of the African Union”.
CHAPTER VII
Article 48
APPOINTMENT OF REGISTRAR
1. The Court shall appoint the Registrar and Deputy Registrar(s) from
amongst candidates proposed by the Judges of the Court, as it
considers necessary, in accordance with the Rules of Court.
2. The Registrar and Deputy Registrar(s) shall be elected for a term of
four (4) years. They may be re-appointed once. They shall reside at
the seat of the Court.
18
3. The salary and conditions of service of the Registrar and Deputy
Registrar(s) shall be determined by the Assembly upon
recommendation of the Court through the Executive Council.
Article 49
APPOINTMENT AND TERMS OF SERVICE OF OTHER STAFF
1. The Court shall employ such staff as may be required to enable the
Court to perform its functions and who shall hold office in the service
of the Court.
2. The salary and other allowances of the other staff of the Court shall
be determined by the Assembly upon the recommendation of the Court
through the Executive Council.
Article 50
OFFICIAL LANGUAGES OF THE COURT
The official and working languages of the Court shall be those of the
Union.
CHAPTER VIII
Article 51
EXECUTION OF JUDGMENT
The State Parties shall comply with the judgment in any dispute to
which they are parties within the time stipulated by the Court and
shall guarantee its execution.
Article 52
NON-COMPLIANCE WITH JUDGMENT
1. Where a party has failed to comply with a judgment, the Court
may, upon application by either party, refer the matter to the
Assembly, which may decide upon measures to be taken to give effect
to the judgment.
2. The Assembly may impose sanctions under paragraph 2 of Article
23 of the Act.
19
Article 53
REPORT TO THE ASSEMBLY
The Court shall submit to each ordinary session of the Assembly, a
report on its work during the previous year. The report shall specify, in
particular, the cases in which a State has not complied with the
Court’s judgment.
CHAPTER IX
Article 54
BUDGET
1. The Court shall elaborate its draft annual budget and shall submit
it to the Assembly through the Executive Council.
2. The budget of the Court shall be borne by the Member States.
Article 55
SUMMARY PROCEDURE
With a view to the speedy dispatch of business, the Court shall form
annually a chamber composed of five (5) Judges, which, at the request
of the parties, may hear and determine cases by summary procedure in
accordance with the Rules of Court. In addition, two (2) Judges shall
be selected from among themselves for the purpose of replacing Judges
who find it impossible to sit.
Article 56
SPECIAL CHAMBERS
The Court may from time to time form one or more chambers,
composed of three (3) or more Judges as the Court may determine, for
dealing with particular categories of cases.
Article 57
JUDGMENT GIVEN BY A CHAMBER
A judgment given by any of the chambers provided for in Articles 55
and 56 of this Protocol shall be considered as rendered by the Court.
20
CHAPTER X
Article 58
RULES OF COURT
The Court shall frame rules for carrying out its functions and generally
for giving effect to this Protocol. In particular, it shall lay down rules of
procedure in conformity with this Protocol.
Article 59
SIGNATURE, RATIFICATION AND ACCESSION
1. This Protocol shall be open to signature, ratification and accession
by Member States in accordance with their respective constitutional
procedures.
2. The instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the
Chairperson of the Commission.
3. Any Member State acceding to this Protocol after its entry into force
shall deposit the instrument of accession with the Chairperson of the
Commission.
Article 60
ENTRY INTO FORCE
This Protocol shall enter into force thirty (30) days after the deposit of
the instruments of ratification by fifteen (15) Member States.
Adopted by the 2nd Ordinary Session
of the Assembly of the Union
11 July 2003
Suscribirse a:
Entradas (Atom)
Entradas
