International law and domestic human rights litigation in Africa

Magnus Killander

Description

African civil law countries are traditionally described as monist and common law countries as dualist. This book illustrates that the monism-dualism dichotomy is too simplistic, in particular in the field of human rights. Academics and practitioners from across the continent illustrate how domestic courts in Africa have engaged with international human rights law to interpret or fill gaps in national bills of rights. The authors also consider the challenges encountered in increasing the use of international human rights law by African domestic courts.An introductory chapter which outlines the legal framework and judicial practice across Africa is followed by case studies on Kenya, Ghana, Botswana, Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda, Benin and Côte d’Ivoire. The book further includes thematic chapters dealing with Namibian equality jurisprudence, right to health litigation in Nigeria, children’s rights litigation in South Africa, the Habré case in Senegal, and the role of the Uganda Human Rights Commission in promoting international law.About the editors:Magnus Killander is Associate Professor at Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria

Sujets

• Economie
• développement
• Politics
• Relations internationales
• Développement
• Géopolitique

Informations

• Publié par: PULP (Pretoria University Law Press)
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780986985720
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

International law and domestic human rights litigation in Africa

Magnus Killander (editor)

2010

International law and domestic human rights litigation in Africa Published by: Pretoria University Law Press (PULP) The Pretoria University Law Press (PULP) is a publisher at the Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, South Africa. PULP endeavours to publish and make available innovative, high-quality scholarly texts on law in Africa. PULP also publishes a series of collections of legal documents related to public law in Africa, as well as text books from African countries other than South Africa. This book was peer-reviewed prior to publication. For more information on PULP, see www.pulp.up.ac.za Printed and bound by:

ABC Press Cape Town To order, contact: PULP Faculty of Law University of Pretoria South Africa 0002 Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] [e-mail] www.pulp.up.ac.za Cover: Yolanda Booyzen, Centre for Human Rights Cover photograph: Jason A. Samfield on Flickr ISBN: 978-0-9869857-2-0 © 2010

THE WORLD BANK Washington, D.C.

This book is part of the ‘Rule of Law in Africa’ series and the financial assistance of theWorld Bankis gratefully acknowledged.

Table of Contents

Foreword v Contributors vii Table of Cases ix List of Abbreviations xix PART I: INTRODUCTION 1. International law and domestic human rights litigation in Africa: An introduction 3 Magnus Killander & Horace Adjolohoun PART II: COUNTRY STUDIES 2. Navigating past the ‘dualist doctrine’: the case for progressive jurisprudence on the application of international human rights norms in Kenya 25 J Osogo Ambani 3. An examination of the use of international law as an interpretative tool in human rights litigation in Ghana and Botswana 37 Emmanuel K Quansah 4. The place of international law in human rights litigation in Tanzania 57 Chacha Bhoke Murungu 5. Domestication of international human rights law in Zambia 71 Michelo Hansungule 6. The application of international law in the Ugandan judicial system: A critical enquiry 83 Busingye Kabumba 7. International law and human rights litigation in Côte d’Ivoire and Benin 109 Armand Tanoh & Horace Adjolohoun PART III: THEMES 8. Equality has no mother but sisters: The preference for comparative law over international law in the equality jurisprudence in Namibia 123 Dunia P Zongwe

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9. Litigating the right to health in Nigeria: Challenges and prospects Ebenezer Durojaye 10. The role of international law in the development of children’s rights in South Africa: A children’s rights litigator’s perspective Karabo Ngidi 11. La Convention contre la torture et son application au niveau national: Le cas du Sénégal dans l’affaire Hissène Habré Fatou Kama Marone 12. The role of National Human Rights Institutions in promoting international law in domestic legal systems: Case study of the Uganda Human Rights Commission Kenechukwu C Esom Bibliography African case law on the internet Index

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Foreword

Anyone who has had their human rights violated has a right to have the 1 violation remedied. An action may be brought before a national court or before a national quasi-judicial body, such as a national human rights institution or ombudsperson. An action may also under certain circumstances be brought before an international court or quasi-judicial body. Those who bring human rights complaints face many challenges and it must be recognised that a judicial approach for the realisation of 2 human rights will never be sufficient. However, at its best adjudication can provide both individual remedies and an impetus for reforms that will help improve the general situation for human rights in a country. This book stems from a conference organised in Lagos, Nigeria, in August 2009 on the theme ‘International law and human rights litigation in Africa’. The conference was held in conjunction with the 18th African moot court competition and formed part ofInternational Law in Domestic Courts (ILDC): Strengthening the network for justice in Africa, a joint project of the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria and the Amsterdam Center for International Law at the University of Amsterdam, supported by the John D & Catherine T MacArthur Foundation. The aim of the ILDC Africa project is to collect and publish African cases dealing with international law or the relationship between international law and 3 domestic law in theOxford Reports on International Law in Domestic Courts, and make this resource, as well as the relevance of international law for 4 domestic courts, known among African litigators, judges and academics. The Lagos conference examined a particular set of challenges facing human rights litigators in Africa. The conference aimed firstly to examine the role of international human rights law in national legal systems and the extent to which such law can be used by courts and by national quasi-judicial human rights bodies in their adjudication. Secondly, the conference set out to examine whether the use of international human rights law adds value to adjudication and, if so, what can be done to increase the use of this body of law. The third issue discussed was the role of international bodies, in particular African regional and sub-regional courts, as a complement to national protection. Papers dealing with the last issue are not included in this book as its focus is restricted to the role of international law in domestic human rights litigation.

1  See eg International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights art 2(3). 2  See eg AA An-Na’im ‘The legal protection of human rights in Africa: How to do more with less’ in A Sarat & TR Kearns (eds)Human rights: Concepts, contests, contingencies (2001) 89. 3  http://www.oxfordlawreports.com. 4  For more information on the ILDC Africa project see http://www.chr.up.ac.za.

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This book aims to contribute to the literature on the role of international law in domestic courts through chapters on the approach of national courts in Africa to international human rights law. It should be of interest to judges, lawyers and NGOs active in the field of human rights litigation as well as to scholars in the fields of human rights and international law. Thirteen academics and practitioners from across the continent have contributed to this book. An introductory chapter is followed by ten chapters which deal with 12 African jurisdictions: Benin, Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. The chapters of the book do not follow a uniform format. Some of the chapters give a general overview of the position of international (human rights) law in a country, while other chapters focus on specific pertinent issues in relation to the overall theme of the role of international law in domestic human rights litigation. Some chapters also highlight factors that are a hindrance to effective human rights litigation in general in the country discussed. All the chapters in this book, except the ones on Namibia and Zambia, have their origin in papers presented at the Lagos conference. All the draft chapters were reworked after peer review by international law scholars and human rights experts from the countries discussed in the contributions. The assistance of Horace Adjolohoun, Lizette Besaans, Japheth Biegon, Liz Coyne, Wezi Phiri and Armand Tanoh in preparing this book for publication is gratefully acknowledged as is the diligent work of the reviewers of the individual chapters. Magnus Killander Editor October 2010

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Contributors

Horace Adjolohounfellow, Centre for Human Rights, research Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, South Africa (based in Benin) J Osogo Ambanilecturer, Catholic University of East Africa, Nairobi, Kenya Ebenezer Durojayecandidate, University of the Free State, doctoral South Africa Kenechukwu C Esom head, Legal and Psychosocial Department and coordinator, Child Rights and Protection Programme, Refugee Law Project, Faculty of Law, Makerere University, Uganda Michelo Hansunguleof human rights law, Centre for professor Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, South Africa Busingye Kabumbalecturer on law, Makerere University, Uganda Magnus Killanderhead of research, Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, South Africa Fatou Kama Maronedeputy executive director, RADDHO, Senegal Chacha Bhoke Murungudoctoral candidate, Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria Karabo Ngidi attorney at the Centre for Child Law, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, South Africa Emmanuel K Quansahprofessor of law, University of Botswana Armand Tanohdoctoral candidate, Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, South Africa Dunia P ZongweJSD candidate, Cornell University, USA

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Table of Cases

Cases 007 of 21 January 1998 (Appeal Court of Cotonou) 117 077 of 4 July 2001 (Appeal Court of Cotonou) 117 102 of 24 October 2001 (Appeal Court of Cotonou) 117 182 of 18 November 1997 (Appeal Court of Cotonou) 117 Abacha and ors v Fawehinmi, Appeal to Supreme Court, SC 45/1997; ILDC 21 (NG 2000); (2001) AHRLR 172 (NgSC 2000), 28 April 2000 13, 156 AD and Another v DW and Others (Centre for Child Law as amicus curiae; Minister of Social Development as intervening party)2008 3 SA 183 (CC) 174, 176 Adesanya v President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria(1981) 1 All NLR 1 162 Adjei-Ampofo v Attorney-General42-43, 54[2003-2004] 1 SCGLR 411 Adofo v Attorney-General & Anor44[2005-2006] SCGLR 42 Agbakova v Director State Security Service[1994] 6 NWLR 475 157 Akdeniz and others v Turkey, application 23954/94 (2001) ECHR 349 (31 May 2001) 209 Amnesty International v Zambia77(2000) AHRLR 325 (ACHPR 1999) Archbishop Okogie and others v The Attorney-General of Lagos State (1981) 2 NCLR 350 154 ArchibaldvAttorney-General[1991] BLR 169 51 Arrêt Mailland, Cour sûpreme, 16 March 1966 6 Arrêt n' 135 du 4 juillet 2000, Chambre d’accusation de la Cour d’appel de Dakar 193 Arrêt n° 199, Cour de cassation, Chambre commerciale, 25 January 2005 7 Asare v Attorney-General44[2003-2004] SCGLR 823 Association des handicapées moteurs du Sénégal c Etat du Sénégal Conseil d'Etat, 29 juin 2000 190 Athukorale v Attorney General of Sri Lanka (1997) 2 BHRC 610 90 Attorney General v Susan Kigula & 417 OrsConstitutional Appeal No 03 OF 2006, ILDC 1260; [2009] UGSC 6, 21 January 2009 92 Attorney-General v Clarke78(2008) AHRLR (ZaSC 2008) Attorney-Generalv Dow45, 48, 50, 90[1992] BLR 119 Attorney-General v Lesinoi Ndeinai and Joseph Selayo Laizer and two Others [1980] TLR 214 61 Badejo v Federal Minister of Education[1990] LRC (Const) 735 155 Bah v Libyan Embassy, Application to Industrial Court, case no IC 956/2005, ILDC 154 (BW 2005); [2006] 1 BLR 22 (HC), 28 November 2005 46 Bank of Uganda v Banco Arabe EspanolSupreme Court Civil

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Appeal No. 8 of 1998 [1998] UGSC 1 (1 January 1998) 102 Baraza la Wanawake Tanzania (BAWATA) and 5 Others v Registrar of Societies and 2 Others, High Court of Tanzania at Dar es Salaam, Misc Civil Cause No 27 of 1997 66 Berton v Alliance Economic Investment Co Ltd44[1922] 1 KB 742 Bojang v The State[1994] BLR 146 46, 49 Brink v Kitshoff NO1251996 (4) SA 197 (CC) British Airways & Anor v Attorney-General[1996-97] SCGLR 547 54 Brown v Board of Education of Topeka152347 US 483 (1954) Buvot v Barbuit(1737) 32 Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace v AG and Others [1993] (1) ZLR 242 66 Centre for Child Law and Another v Minister of Home Affairs and Others 2005 6 SA 50 (T) 181 Centre for Child Law v Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development and Others(NICRO as amicus curiae)1832009 6 SA 632 (CC) Centrumvoor gelijkheid van kansen en voor racismebestrijding v Firma Feryn(C-54/07), judgment of the Court (Second Chamber), 10 July 2008 129 Chairperson of the Immigration Selection Board v Frank and Another 2001 NR 107 (SC) 121-122 Charles Onyango Obbo and Anor v Attorney General, Constitutional Appeal No 2 of 2002, ILDC 166; [2004] UGSC 1, 11 February 2004 90 Charles v The State[2005] 1 BLR 421 54 Chiku Lidah v Adamu OmariHigh Court of Tanzania, at Singida, Civil Appeal No 34 of 1991 (unreported) 64 Chima Ubani v Director of State Security Services and Attorney General of the Federation unreported case no CA/L 260/96 7 July 1999 157 Christine Mulundika and 7 Others v The PeopleSCJ 25 of 1995; SCZ Appeal 95 of 1995 77 Christopher Mtikila and Others v The RepublicHigh Court of Tanzania at Dodoma, Criminal Appeal No 90 of 1990 (unreported) 65 Christopher Mtikila and Others v The Republicin the High Court of Tanzania, at Dar Es Salaam Main Registry, Miscellaneous Civil Cause No 10 of 2005, judgment of 5 May 2006 (unreported) 65, 68 Chu Kheng Lim v Minister of Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs90(1992) 176 CLR Chung Chi Cheng v R46[1938] 4 All ER 786 (PC) CIV/1995/A 05 Cote d’Ivoire/Conseil Constitutionnel/29-12-95/Decision n E 031-95 110 CIV/1995/A01 Cote d’Ivoire/Conseil Constitutionnel/27-10/1995/Decision n E 0005-95/extraits 110 CIV/1995/A02 Cote d’Ivoire/Conseil Constitutionnel/

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decision n E 023-95/extraits CIV/1995/A04 Cote d’Ivoire/Conseil Constitutionnel/29-12-1995/extraits Claassen v Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development and Another[2009] ZAWCHC 190 (8 December 2009) Col (Rtd) Dr Kiiza Besigye v Yoweri Museveni Kaguta and the Electoral CommissionElection Petition No. 1 of 2001 (Supreme Court) DCC 02-065 of 5 June 2002 DCC 03–071 of 16 April 2003 DCC 03-083 of 28 May 2003 DCC 05-050 of 16 June 2005 DCC 05-114 of 20 September 2005 DCC 33-94 of 24 November 1994 DCC 97-006 of 18 February 1997 DCC 97-011 of 6 March 1997 DCC 97-056 of 8 October 1997 DCC 98 of 23 December 1998 DCC 98-059 of 2 and 4 June 1998 DCC-02-52 of 31 May 2002 DCC-058 of 4 June 2002 Decision 48/CA of 17 June 1999, Appeal Court of Cotonou Decision DCC 03-009, Cour Constitutionelle, 19 February 2003 Desai v The State[1987] BLR 55 Director of Public Prosecutions v Daudi Pete[1993] TLR 22 Dow v Attorney-General[1991] BLR 233 Dzemajl and Others v Yugoslavia, communication 161/2000, 21 November 2002 East African Development Bank v Ziwa Horticultural Exporters Limited(High Court Misc Application No 1048 of 2000, arising from Companies Cause No 11 of 2000) Edith Nawakwi v Attorney-General(1991) HP/1724 Edusei v A-G[1996-97] SCGLR 1 Elizabeth Mwanza v Holiday Inn Hotel, 1997/HP/2054 (unreported) EN and others v The Government of South Africa and others unreported case 4576/06, 28 August 2006 Fawehinmi v Akilu(1987) 4 NWLR 797 Feldman (Pty) Ltd v Mall1945 AD 733 Feliya Kachusu v The Attorney-General (1967) ZR 145 Fose v Minister of Safety and Security, 1997 (3) SA 786 (CC) Fred Tumuramye v Gerald Bwete and others, complaint 264/1999 (1 October 2001) Gbemre v Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria and ors, First Instance Decision, FHC/B/CS/53/05; ILDC 924 (NG 2005); (2005) AHRLR 151 (NgHC 2005), 14 November 2005

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110

13

92 114 116 116 116 116 114 114 114 114 114 114 115 115 117 6 54 62 45

207

85 76 42, 54 75

153 162 135 74 115

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