Editorial introduction : compliance with regional human rights – focus on East and West Africa

Abstract

The African human rights system constitutes non-binding and binding decision-making organs of the African Union (AU). These AU organs include, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Commission), the African Committee on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (Children’s Committee) and the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Court). Sometimes, as was the case in SERAC, these AU organs act as appeal structures for decisions from the judicial arms of the Regional Economic Communities (RECs). The RECs are groups of countries in sub regions for the purposes of achieving greater economic integration, peace and stability in their region. They are described as the building blocks of the AU and are also central to the strategy for implementing regional human rights standards in Africa.