The Role of the East African Court of Justice in the Advancement of Human Rights: Reflections on the Creation and Practice of the Court

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 359-377
Author(s):  
Mihreteab Tsighe Taye
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Rule Of Law ◽  
East African ◽  
East African Community ◽  
The Rule Of Law ◽  
Court Of Justice ◽  
African Community ◽  
The Creation ◽  
Over Time

International courts (ICs) like any other institution evolve over time. They constantly evolve responding to socio-political dynamics. The East African Court of Justice (EACJ) has evolved to deal with the rule of law and human rights-related cases. Although the jurisprudence of the EACJ has been studied, the creation of the court and the origin of the provisions in which the court relies to decide human rights-related matters has largely been unexplored. This article presents the first empirical analysis of the creation of the EACJ and the processes by which the provisions of the rule of law and human rights entered the Treaty for the establishment of the East African Community (EAC). The article also examines the practice of the EACJ to show its evolution over time.

scholarly journals East African Court of Justice and Human Rights Jurisdiction: Drawing the Line

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-23
Author(s):  
Liza Chula
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Economic Integration ◽  
Rule Of Law ◽  
East African ◽  
The Rule Of Law ◽  
Court Of Justice ◽  
Pertinent Question ◽  
Protection Of Human Rights ◽  
African Charter

Human rights in Africa have gradually gained a place of recognition few could have foreseen only a decade ago. With the promotion and protection of human rights entrenched deep in the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, African states have a duty to uphold this principle in the larger goal of regional economic integration. The East African Court of Justice (EACJ), a regional court, has thus assumed the role of a watchdog in breathing life into these provisions, safeguarding the rule of law and ensuring everyone plays by the rules. It is unfortunate that these watchdogs can then lack the most important tool in steering the ship – jurisdiction. This paper, through a detailed analysis of literature review, tackles the pertinent question of whether the court has jurisdiction to handle human rights cases and arrives at the conclusion that an express mandate is lacking, but there is a somewhat implied mandate. Nonetheless, a clear articulation of the EACJ’s mandate is necessary to enable it to address issues effectively and efficiently.

scholarly journals An Appraisal of the Functioning and Effectiveness of the East African Court of Justice

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 1-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ally Possi
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
East African ◽  
East African Community ◽  
Court Of Justice ◽  
Initial Stage ◽  
African Community ◽  
The Right ◽  
Integration Project

This contribution reflects on the functioning of the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) and judges its effectiveness by assessing the Court's role of ensuring adherence to, the application of and compliance with the East African Community (EAC) Treaty. The EACJ became operational on 30 November 2001, following its inauguration after the swearing in of its judges and the Registrar. During this initial stage of the Court's existence there were indications that the EACJ was failing to stamp its authority on the activities of the Community. The main reason for this failure is the existence of gaps in the EAC Treaty, which prevent the EACJ from effectively discharging its functions. In addition, as shown in this article, the EACJ has been delivering judgements on the grounds of doubtful authority which has gradually diminished the Court's legitimacy. Given its relevance to the EAC, this may therefore be the time to audit the EACJ's functioning and reflect on whether it is moving in the right direction. The hypothesis of this article is that the EACJ has been struggling to establish its authority in the region, mostly in the areas of human rights, the rule of law and good governance. In tracing its history so far it is easy to discern its strategic attempts at judicial law-making to arrogate to itself the role of the protector of human rights. While it is acknowledged that the EACJ is increasingly receiving cases of a divergent nature, most of these cases have had little influence on the integration project or are outside the scope of its mandate.    

Περιμένοντας τους Bαρβάρους. Law in a Time of Constitutional Crisis.

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Rule Of Law ◽  
Judicial Review ◽  
Judicial Independence ◽  
The Rule Of Law ◽  
European Dimension

Περιμένοντας τους Bαρβάρους. Law in a Time of Constitutional Crisis is not a typical celebratory book offered to the dedicatee for an academic jubilee. The studies offered to Professor Mirosław Wyrzykowski present the readers with essays analysing the most pressing problems of modern constitutionalism in its European dimension. The primary themes of the book are topics dear to Wyrzykowski: the rule of law, human rights, the crooked paths of European constitutionalism, and last, but not least, one that binds them all: judicial independence and judicial review, as well as the role of the courts in upkeeping the rule of law.

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