The African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights and Individual Petition Procedure

The lack of centralised enforcement power distinguishes international law, as a legal order, with national, domestic or even inter-organisational legal systems. The lack of enforcement is evident as a major flaw in international protection of Human Rights. A huge gap exists between the the implemented Human Rights norms and those accepted to be enforceable by the international community. In a world marked with myriad of Human Rights abuses, investigating abuses and ensuing prosecution and punishment of violators of Human Rights is now a global concern, especially in Africa where range of civil wars and treatments contrary to Human Rights are witnessed. The individual right to petition and complaint is one of the guarantors in protection of human rights. This article assesses this right at the African Court on Human and People’s Rights based on its constitution, mandate and jurisdiction outlined in its founding document.