Civil Society Groups Demand Direct Access to African Human Rights Court
A coalition of 24 Nigerian and international civil society organisations has called upon the Federal Government to grant Nigerians direct access to the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
In a joint statement addressed to the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu, the organisations urged the government to make and deposit the declaration under Article 34(6) of the Protocol Establishing the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Such a declaration would permit Nigerians and eligible non-governmental organisations to approach the Court directly after exhausting domestic remedies.
The statement followed a letter sent to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
Although Nigeria ratified the Protocol establishing the Court in 2004, it has yet to make the optional declaration required to enable direct access. The coalition contends that this omission continues to deny victims of human rights violations a vital regional avenue for justice.
The organisations stated that Nigeria’s continued refusal to make the Article 34(6) declaration undermines access to justice and effective remedies, and weakens accountability—particularly for victims whose cases are stalled, neglected, or inadequately addressed within the domestic legal system.
Nigeria has been a longstanding member of the African human rights system, having ratified the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights in 1983. The country is also represented on the Court by Justice Stella Isibhakhomen Anukam, who was re-elected in July 2024 and has consistently underscored the importance of Nigeria making the Article 34(6) declaration.
The coalition further recalled that during its 62nd Ordinary Session in May 2018, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights recommended that Nigeria expedite the declaration process to allow individuals and NGOs direct recourse to the Court in cases of human rights violations.
According to the organisations, making the declaration would significantly strengthen the protection of rights guaranteed under the African Charter, including freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, digital rights, access to natural resources, and people-centred safety and security.
0 Comments