Like a candle in the wind: commentary of communications decided by the African Commission of Human and Peoples' Rights in 2003

Abstract

This article deals with the communications decided by the Commission in 2003. There were 14 communications in total before the Commission including six cases that were decided inadmissible. Two files were deemed inadmissible because of the withdrawal of complaint, one due to loss of contact with complainant, and three for non-exhaustion of local remedies. Substantive rights considered in admissible communications include non-discrimintation, equality before the law, right to fair trial, freedom from torture, right to liberty and security, and right to collective peace and security. All the communications are reported in the African Human Rights Law Report 2003. The article is structured to give a case-by-case commentary. The cases are discussed in terms of its admissibility and merits.