The first ordinary session of the fourth Legislature of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) opened on Monday with a call on MPs to act as people’s advocates on issues affecting the continent.

Speaking at the opening, in Johannesburg on Monday, Justice Augustino S.L Ramadhani, the president of the African Court on Human and People’s Rights, challenged lawmakers about the need for ratification of the Protocol under which the court was created.

"This is the first time I am before this August Parliament, let me seize this rare treat to plead with you about the ratification of the Protocol which has created the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights and also for the making of declarations under Article 34 (6) of that Protocol which permit individuals, that is, the sons and daughters of mother Africa and their NGOs to come directly to the Court,” he said.

The individuals I am canvassing for are the ones who elected your colleagues to National Parliaments and thereby to enable you to be elected to the PAP, he added.

He noted that it was necessary to ask the country’s respective Executives to ratify the Protocol and to deposit declarations which will allow individuals to go directly to the highest Court of Human rights on the continent.

"That is one of the ways to serve your electorate. Human Rights are for the individual sons and daughters of mother Africa so let us give them the right to access the Court directly,” he said.

During the first six months of this year, the Court received 17 cases from African individuals, nationals of some of the only seven States, including Rwanda, which have deposited the declaration.

That number shows you how keen the African masses want the services of this Court, Justice Augustino said.

Twenty-five States have not ratified the Protocol while 47 States have not deposited the declaration allowing their nationals to seek justice in the Court.

Justice Augustino asked the MPs to act as people’s advocates.

The Pan-African Parliament was established in March 2004 to serve as a platform for all African peoples.

It deliberates on challenges facing the African continent.

There are 47 African Union member states, each represented by five parliamentarians at the South Africa-based Assembly.

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