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24 July 2015

In the case of Jasin v. Denmark, the Human Rights Committee decided in its 114 th session (Communication 2360/2014) that the return of a Somali mother with her three small children from Denmark to Italy, the country of her first asylum under the Dublin Regulations, would amount to a violation of article 7 of the Covenant, in view of the hardship and state of destitution they had experienced in this country in the past. Although the Committee deals with many cases in which the victims may be at risk of violations of article 7 of the Covenant in case of expulsion, this is the first time where the risk would come from a Western European country, and was linked to economic and social reasons. For more information and other decisions adopted by the Committee at its session, see the treaty body case law database: http://juris.ohchr.org/

15 September 2014

The Internet Governance Forum  in Istanbul launched the African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms on 4 September 2014. UNESCO declared this a "significant milestone in this digital era," making reference also to the 1993 Windhoek Declaration, the 2001 African Charter on Broadcasting and the 2002 Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa.

12 October 2012

Today the Botswana High Court issued a landmark decision on inheritance rights for African women, for the first time according women the right to inherit a family home despite customary law practices. The court held that a tribal Tswana custom law that give that right only to the first-born or last-born sons was against the country's Constitution, which upholds gender equality.

15 June 2012

Ms Fatou Bensouda has been sworn in as the new chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC).  Bensouda has been serving as the deputy prosecutor at the ICC since 2004 and becomes the first woman and first African to head the 300-strong team of prosecutors at the tribunal. The Gambian 51-year old woman replaces Luis Moreno Ocampo, who has been the chief prosecutor since 2003.

26 April 2012

The Special Court for Sierra Leone convicts Charles Taylor, former President of Liberia, for aiding and abetting war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sierra Leone during the civil war.

14 March 2012

The International Criminal Court issues its first verdict: Thomas Lubanga, national of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and former president of the Union des patriotes congolais (UPC), was found guilty of of the war crimes of conscripting and enlisting children under the age of 15 and using them to participate actively in hostilities.

19 December 2011

The UN General Assembly adopts a third Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child establishing a procedure for individual complaints. The new protocol will open for signature in 2012.

11 October 2011

Cape Verde ratifies the Rome Statute and becomes state party to the International Criminal Court.

10 October 2011

Cape Verde ratifies the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Thus it is now possible for people living in Cape Verde to address the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women in cases of human rights violations.

30 September 2011

Djibouti ratifies the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

27 September 2011

Mauritania signs the Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

26 September 2011

Cape Verde signs the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

29 June 2011

Tunisia ratifies the Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Thus it is now possible for people in Tunisia to address the Human Rights Committee in cases of human rights violations.

24 June 2011

Tunisia ratifies the Rome Statute and becomes state party to the International Criminal Court.

3 June 2011

Following an individual complaint, the UN Committee against Torture rules that Algeria has violated the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in the case Hanafi vs. Algeria.

26 May 2011

Following an individual complaint, the UN Committee against Torture rules that Morocco has violated the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in the case Ktiti vs. Morocco.

4 April 2011

Zambia ratifies the Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

22 March 2011

Following an individual complaint, the UN Human Rights Committee rules that Cameroon has violated the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in the case Akwanga vs. Cameroon.

In the same session, the Human Rights Committee also finds a violation of the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by Algeria in the case Aouabdia vs. Algeria.

1 March 2011

Togo ratifies the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as well as the Optional Protocol to this Convention. Thus it is now possible for people living in Togo to address the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in cases of human rights violations.

9 February 2011

Ghana now accepts the competence of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights to receive cases directly from individuals and NGOs according to article 5, paragraph 3 of the Protocol. Thus, it is now possible for individuals and NGOs in Ghana to complain directly to the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights in cases of human rights violations.

25 January 2011

Djibouti deposits its ratification of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.

19 January 2011

Gabon ratifies the Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

Last change: 30.06.16 - 15:17