I. Events (co-)hosted and work carried out by the HRLIP

I.1. Workshops

On 27 May 2020 the HRIC held a webinar to discuss collaborative strategies for implementation of decisions by regional and UN bodies in Cameroon. Funded by the Open Society Justice Initiative and as a follow up to the ESRC funded Human Rights Law Implementation Project, participants included the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa, and FGI Cameroon as well as the Open Society Justice Initiative.

Country workshops: Burkina Faso

A one-day consultative workshop was held on 20 July 2017 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso to initiate consultations and discussion on the experiences and challenges for implementation of decisions in Burkina Faso. The workshop was organised with the Burkinabe Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights and was attended by approximately 20 participants from public institutions and government ministries. The workshop examined a number of fundamental research points including the notion of and issues concerning implementation and factors that influence implementation in Burkina Faso. The workshop enabled the participants to share practical experiences and lay the ground work for identifying further areas of research to be explored in more detail in further consultations and interviews.

Country workshops: Cameroon

Two roundtables were organised in Cameroon on 5 July 2017 to discuss the opportunities and challenges for implementing decisions of the human rights treaty bodies in Cameroon. The first roundtables brought together representatives from the Government, members of Parliament and the National Human Rights Commission, and the second involved civil society organisations, leading academics and representatives from professional bodies. The roundtables explored a number of key research questions in order to obtain information on the national process for responding to decisions as well as the status of implementation of decisions involving Cameroon. The roundtables enabled the participants to share information and exchange views on the factors that can assist or hinder implementation in practice.

Country workshops: Zambia

Two roundtables were held in Zambia on 16 – 17 August 2017 to obtain additional information on the status of implementation of the African Commission and Human Rights Committee’s cases involving Zambia, determine the national institutions responsible for implementation, clarify the procedure for implementation of the decisions and identify impediments to implementation. The roundtables were attended by over 40 participants including the Attorney General of Zambia, Mr Likando Kalaluka, a former member/chairperson of the Human Rights Committee, Dr Zonke Majodina, legal officers and staff of various government institutions and ministries including the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Gender, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Finance, staff of the Zambian Human Rights Commission, National Assembly of Zambia, other academic institutions in Zambia, Zambia Open University, Law Association of Zambia (LAZ), Centre for Human Rights researchers, civil society organisations and the press. Participants used the opportunity of the roundtable to discuss factors affecting implementation of decisions of international human rights bodies in Zambia.

I.2. Research activities (Research interview trips)

Impact fund to support additional follow-up in Zambia
To provide some initial follow-up activities on behalf of the HRLIP, Debra Long from the HRIC at the University of Bristol, has secured a grant from the UKRI Global Impact Acceleration Account to continue the HRLIP engagement with the Ministry of Justice in Zambia. The fund will be used to apply the findings of the HRLIP to provide practical support to ongoing discussions and efforts in Zambia to strengthen follow-up and implementation of decisions on individual communications and engagement with the international and regional human rights systems.

Panel event on implementation at the 63^rd African Commission
On 24 October 2018 the HRLIP organised and participated in an expert panel discussion at the 63^rd ordinary session of the African Commission in Gambia. Prof. Rachel Murray gave a presentation on behalf of the HRLIP as an expert panellist. The panel also brought together representatives from Government, civil society litigants, and a national human rights institution to share their experiences in respect of implementation of African Commission decisions on individual communications. The panellists were able to respond to questions from State and civil society representatives attending the African Commission session.

HRLIP meeting with Chair of the African Commission’s Working Group on Communications
On 24 September 2018 representatives from the HRLIP held a formal meeting in Bristol with the Chair of the African Commission’s Working Group on Communications. The aim of the meeting was to present some preliminary findings of the HRLIP research; to plan a panel discussion on implementation at the next African Commission session, and to continue discussion on ways in which the HRLIP can support the ongoing efforts of the African Commission to strengthen follow-up and implementation of its decisions on individual communications.

HRLIP research visit to the African Union
Between 28 May and 1 June 2018 a research trip to Addis Ababa took place to carry out a series of meetings and interviews with key people working with the African Union. The overall aim of trip was to gain a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities for the various AU organs in monitoring the implementation of decisions on individual communications from the African Commission and African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The research trip also provided an opportunity to discuss the project with representatives from the EU delegation to the AU, as well as with donor governments.

HRLIP participates in 62^nd Ordinary Session of the African Commission
Between 25 and 27 April 2018 Prof Rachel Murray, Prof Frans Viljoen, and Debra Long from the HRLIP Africa team participated in the 62^nd ordinary session of the African Commission in Mauritania in order to hold informal talks on implementation with Commissioners, the Secretariat and civil society organisations.

Research visits to Zambia and Cameroon
Between 19 February and 1 March 2018 a representative of the HRLIP undertook a series of meetings and interviews in Zambia and Cameroon as part of the larger ESRC funded Human Rights Law Implementation Project (HRLIP). During the research trip Debra met with a range of government officials, and representatives from national human rights institutions and civil society to discuss the implementation of decisions on individual communications.  

Participation in the 61st Ordinary Session of the African Commission
As part of the HRLIP’s ongoing engagement with the African Commission ProfRachel Murray and Debra Long, attended the 61st ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Banjul, The Gambia, from 31st October until 3rd November 2017. During the visit informal meetings were held with Commissioners, the Secretariat and civil society organisations.

Research interviews: Cameroon

Two research trips have been undertaken to Cameroon in September 2016 and July 2017 respectively. The overall objective of the first trip was to discuss the project with the in-country consultant and make preparations for future in-country activities. The second research trip focused on holding two roundtables with key stakeholders, which was consolidated by additional interviews with members of Parliament and civil society. Further project planning activities were also undertaken in consultation with the in-country consultant.

Research interviews: Zambia

Two research trips have been undertaken to Zambia in March and August 2017. The first trip focused on informing key stakeholders about the research project and undertaking initial interviews. In addition, planning discussions were held to make arrangements for future in-country activities. The second research trip, undertaken in August 2017, entails the holding of two roundtables with the relevant stakeholders. Additional interviews were conducted with representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Justice and Home Affairs, and further project planning was carried out with the in-country consultant.

Research interviews: African Court of Human and Peoples’ Rights

Prof. Rachel Murray undertook a research trip to the African Court of Human and People’s Rights, in Arusha, Tanzania between 12 and 15 May 2017 to conduct a series of interviews and meetings with judges, members of the registrar’s office and other key stakeholders.

Research trip to the OHCHR

In October 2016 Prof. Clara Sandoval-Villalba carried out a research trip to Geneva to meet with key staff at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Meetings were held with UN secretariat staff in relation to their role in monitoring implementation of its decisions. This provided an opportunity to identify areas for further work and potential contributions the project can make to the OHCHR’s treaty body strengthening strategy.

II. External events (Participation of team members in conferences/seminars)

On 11 March 2021 the HRIC and the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria held a webinar on the implementation of decisions and judgments of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the African Committee on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. It heard from members of these three organs and representatives of their secretariats and registry.

 The recording of the webinar is available here: https://www.chr.up.ac.za/latest-news/2436-webinar-on-the-implementation-of-decisions-and-judgments-of-african-human-rights-organs

First Meeting of the International Human Rights Forum of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights
Professor Rachel Murray and Professor Frans Viljoen (University of Pretoria Human Rights Centre) presented to the First Meeting of the International Human Rights Forum of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the European Court of Human Rights and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, in Kampala, Uganda, from 28-29 October 2019. They were invited to outline the findings of the Human Rights Law Implementation Project for the judges of the three Courts present at the Forum.

African Court on Human and Peoples Rights
On Tuesday 18th June 2019, Prof. Rachel Murray and Prof. Frans Viljoen (University of Pretoria Human Rights Centre) travelled to the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights in Arusha Tanzania to meet with the Vice President, Judges of the African Court and members of the Registry.

Current issues and common challenges for the protection of human rights in Europe, Africa and the Americas
On Friday 14th June 2019, in London, the Human Rights Implementation Centre, the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law, Essex University's Human Rights Centre and the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights at the University of Oxford held a conference on 'Current issues and common challenges for the protection of human rights in Europe, Africa and the Americas'.

Rachel Murray and Clara Sandoval, ‘The award of compensation by human rights treaty bodies: Challenges in defining and obtaining monetary awards’, paper to Rethinking Reparations in International Law, 15th-17th November, Lauterpacht Centre For International Law, University Of Cambridge.

Presentation at the African Commisions regional seminar on Human and Peoples Rights
Prof. Rachel Murray gave a presentation at the African Commission's regional seminar on Implementation of the decisions of the commission (PDF, 141kB) - The experience of the IACHR, EHRC, ACRWC and the AfCHPR’, held in Zanzibar, 4-6 September 2018

Presentation at the African Commisions regional seminar on Human and Peoples Rights
Prof. Frans Viljoen gave a presentation at the African Commission's regional seminar on ‘The Working Methods of the Commission and the various Decisions it issues and how these recommendations are communicated to the States Concerned’, held in Zanzibar,  04-06 September 2018

Presentation at the African Commission’s regional seminar on implementation

Prof. Rachel Murray and Prof. Frans Viljoen gave presentations at the African Commission’s regional seminar to examine implementation on individual communications, held in Dakar, Senegal between 12-15 August 2017.

Stakeholder Meeting on European Fundamental Rights Information System (EFRIS)

Prof. Rachel Murray participated in a Stakeholder Meeting on European Fundamental Rights Information System organised by EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) between 20 and 21 June 2017 in Vienna, Austria.  

60^th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights

Debra Long and Prof. Frans Viljoen participated in the 60^th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights held in May 2017 in Niger. At the session a statement was made on behalf of the HRLIP during the plenary discussions outlining the research project objectives and individual communications being examined. Attendance at the session also provided an opportunity to hold meetings with the Commissioners and civil society organisations.

African Commission Litigants’ Forum

In June 2016 Prof. Rachel Murray delivered a paper on the ‘Implementation of African Commission decisions’ to the Litigants Forum, Johannesburg June 2016.

International Law Seminar, Lauterpacht Centre

Prof. Rachel Murray presented a on ‘Monitoring the implementation of decisions of the African Commission and Court of Human and Peoples' Rights’ at the Lauterpacht Centre’s International Law Seminar in 2016.

Drafting Retreat to develop a General Comment on the Right to Redress

Debra Long participated in a drafting retreat organised by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in February 2016 in Cape Town, South Africa as part of the process to develop a General Comment on the right to redress under Article 5 of the African Charter. The retreat generated a zero draft setting out key definitions and principles relating to the right to redress for victims of torture and also articulated measures to assist with implementation.