Snapshot: The Coalition for an Effective African Court

Founded in May 2003, the Coalition for an Effective African Court (ACC) is an organization comprised of NGOs, individuals, and independent domestic human rights institutions (e.g. NHRIs -- see below) seeking to promote human rights protection in Africa through the establishment of the African Court on Human and People's Rights.  The main goal of ACC is to persuade African nations to ratify the establishment of the Court.  Secondarily, ACC exists to ensure the fair and transparent election of judges to the Court, to encourage the participation of civil society in the Court, and to provide technical support to the Court (as well as the Court's parent institution - the African Union).  To achieve its aims, ACC acts primarily through the publication of research and policy proposals, as well as the creation of programs designed to raise awareness of human rights issues.

Through the lobbying efforts of ACC, the African Court on Human and People's Rights was ratified by eight states in 2005, enabling the establishment of the Court.  Shortly after, seven other states ratified the protocol creating the Court - also through the work of ACC.  More recently, the African Union has sought to merge the African Court on Human and People's Rights with the AU Court of Justice.  ACC is been heavily involved in drafting recommendations for the successful merger of these two entities.

ACC is managed by an executive committee consisting of nine positions:  a chairperson, a secretariat, coordinator, and focal point and liaison advisers.  As a member organization, IHRDA currently serve as the focal point on national human rights institutions (NHRIs).  Similarly, IHRDA was the chairperson of the executive committee from 2007-2008.  As the focal point for NHRIs, IHRDA is responsible for supporting the functioning of NHRIs (e.g. technical assistance), creating and maintaining a strong network between ACC members, and enabling the mission of the ACC.  Through its support of NHRIs, IHRDA hopes to make the African Court on Human and People's Rights more accessible to all African citizens and increase the credibility of the Court as a continental enforcer of human rights.  In this focal point role, IHRDA also works closely with the Secretariat of the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions to further increase the involvement of NHRIs in the regional human rights system.


Source:
http://www.ihrda.org/our-programmes/ihrda-and-acc/