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Association Internationale Des Jurists Democrates v Ethiopia (Communication 28 of 1989)

African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights · [1989] ACHPR 5 · 1989 Communication Inadmissible AI-generated summary ↓ Download Pin to watchlist Add to matter
Jurisdiction
Uganda
Case Type
Communication to the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights alleging human rights violations
Decision
Communication dismissed for lack of jurisdiction

Observed later treatment

No later-treatment classification is recorded for this judgment.

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AI-generated summary. This summary was generated by AI from the full text of the judgment. It may contain errors or omissions—always read the source judgment before relying on it.

Holding

The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights declared the communication inadmissible because it was directed against Ethiopia, a state that was not a party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights at the time. The Commission lacks jurisdiction over non-party states.

Outcome

Communication dismissed for lack of jurisdiction

Facts

The Association Internationale Des Jurists Democrates filed a communication with the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights alleging false imprisonment, destruction of property, and other human rights violations against Ethiopia. The communication was considered at the Commission's sixth ordinary session held from 23 October to 4 November 1989. Ethiopia was not a party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights at the time the communication was filed.

Issues

  1. Whether the African Commission has jurisdiction to consider a communication directed against a state that is not a party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.

Orders

  • Communication declared inadmissible.

Rules and key headnotes

Human Rights — Jurisdiction — African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights — Admissibility of Communications Against Non-Party States
The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights lacks jurisdiction to consider communications directed against states that are not parties to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.

Legislation cited (2)

  • African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights art.30
  • Rules of Procedure of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights art.101

Full judgment

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The original judgment as reported. Read the original PDF before relying on any passage.

Association Internationale Des Jurists Democrates v Ethiopia (Communication 28 of 1989) [1989] ACHPR 5 (4 November 1989)
Source: this page presents Wakilii’s issue analysis and metadata for a publicly reported Ugandan judgment. Any AI-generated summary is marked as such. Judgment text is sourced from the Uganda Legal Information Institute (ulii.org). Wakilii is not affiliated with ULII.