The President of African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Justice Augustino Ramadhani, has commended Rwanda for both ratifying the protocol and making the declaration to allow NGOs and individuals to access the court.

Judge Ramadhani was last week addressing Rwandan envoy to Tanzania Eugene Kayihura, who together with his French counterpart to Tanzania, visited the court seat in Arusha.

High Commissioner Kayihura was briefed on the activities of the court and commended the achievements so far, according to a statement.

Rwanda is among seven of 29 countries that have ratified the protocol and made the declaration. Others include Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Malawi, Mali and hosts Tanzania.

Meanwhile, more than 70 lawyers and human rights organisations attended a one-day sensitisation of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights organised by the South African Law Society in Johannesburg last week.

Judge Ramadhani encouraged South Africa, which ratified the court’s protocol some 13 years ago, to make the declaration.

‘’The need for NGOs and individuals to directly access the court is critical for the realisation of the objectives of the court,’’ he said.

Nic Swart, the chief executive of Law Society of South Africa, said that the legal fraternity has recognised the need to raise public awareness about the existence, functions, and accessibility of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.