i Enhancing the Enforcement of International Judicial Decisions in the African Human Rights System UNIVERSITY OF NAVARRA SCHOOL OF LAW THE AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS JUDICIAL SYSTEM: A PROPOSAL FOR STREAMLINING STRUCTURES AND DOMESTICATION MECHANISMS VIEWED FROM THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS POWER PERSPECTIVE DOCTORAL THESIS LUIS GABRIEL FRANCESCHI FRANCESCHI DIRECTED BY PROFESSORS DR. ROMUALDO BERMEJO AND DRA. MA EUGENIA LÓPEZ-JACOISTE PAMPLONA, 2011 Servicio de Publicaciones de la Universidad de Navarra ISBN 978-84-8081-288-7 ii Luis G. Franceschi Franceschi Enhancing the Enforcement of International Judicial Decisions in the African Human Rights System iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................. VII LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ............................................. IX TABLE OF CASES ............................................................ XV INTRODUCTION ............................................................... 1 CHAPTER I: THE LINK BETWEEN CONSTITUTIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW ................... 9 1. Foreign Policy, Foreign Affairs and the Constitution ...... 13 2. The Regulation of the Foreign Affairs Power in Constitutional Law ................................................................ 29 3. The Foreign Affairs Power and Sovereignty ..................... 37 4. Conclusion .............................................................................. 48 CHAPTER II: CONSTITUTIONALITY’S IMPACT ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS: TREATY-MAKING, DIPLOMACY AND CONSTITUTIONAL PRACTICE ...................................... 51 1. The Treaty-Making Process ................................................. 52 1.1 The Nature of Treaties ................................................ 53 1.2 Consent as an Essential Element for the Validity of Treaties ..................................................................... 61 1.3 The Object of Treaties ................................................ 74 1.4 Obligations Born from Treaties ................................. 76 iv Luis G. Franceschi Franceschi 1.5 Treaty Domestication Mechanisms: Incorporation of treaties into the domestic realm ............................ 79 1.6 The Incorporation of Treaties into the Domestic Legal System and the Question of Hierarchy ........... 83 1.7 Primacy and Temporal Validity of Treaties .............. 86 1.8 The Question of Unconstitutional Treaties .............. 87 2. Diplomatic Relations............................................................. 92 2.1 Diplomacy: Definition and Nature ............................ 93 2.2 Goals and Functions .................................................... 98 2.3 Means and Procedures ................................................ 99 2.4 Diplomatic Service ..................................................... 103 2.5 Multilateral Diplomacy .............................................. 105 3. The Foreign Affairs Power in Constitutional Practice ... 117 4. Conclusion ............................................................................ 135 CHAPTER III: THE CREATION OF INTERNATIONAL GOVERNMENTAL INSTITUTIONS: THE AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS SYSTEM .......................... 141 1. Considerations on Human Rights in Africa ..................... 142 2. Historical Appraisal of the African Human Rights System ................................................................................... 147 2.1 The Growth of Human Rights Awareness in Africa ........................................................................... 150 2.2 Initial Development of the African Human Rights System.............................................................. 160 3. The African Charter on Human and People‘s Rights .... 166 3.1 Structure and Motivation .......................................... 169 3.2 Charter Innovations in the African Context .......... 170 3.2.1 The Rights to Solidarity .................................. 173 3.2.1.1 The Right to Development ..................... 176 Enhancing the Enforcement of International Judicial Decisions in the African Human Rights System v 3.2.1.2 The Right to the Common Heritage of Mankind ............................................... 180 3.2.1.3 The Right to Peace and Security ............ 182 3.2.1.4 The Right to a Satisfactory Environment ............................................ 191 3.2.2 The duties of the individual ........................... 195 3.2.3 The designation of ‗people‘ as a legal subject ............................................................... 207 4. Conclusion ............................................................................ 212 CHAPTER IV: THE CREATION OF JUDICIAL STRUCTURES IN THE AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS SYSTEM AND THEIR DECISIONS-MAKING POWER ........................ 215 1. The African Commission on Human and People‘s Rights .................................................................................... 216 1.1 General Mandate of the Commission: Promotion and Interpretation .................................. 220 1.2 Specific Mandate: Enforcement and Implementation .......................................................... 231 1.2.1 Inter-State Communications.......................... 232 1.2.2 Individual Communications .......................... 236 1.2.3 The Supporting Role of the NGOs .............. 241 1.2.4 State Reporting ................................................ 243 2. The African Court on Human and People‘s Rights ....... 248 2.1 Establishment and Composition.............................. 250 2.2 Jurisdiction of the Court ........................................... 251 2.3 Lodging Complaints .................................................. 262 2.4 Consideration of Cases .............................................. 264 2.5 Court Judgments and their Execution .................... 267 3. The Court of Justice of the African Union ...................... 273 vi Luis G. Franceschi Franceschi 4. Other African Supranational Judicial Organs and their Impact on the Human Rights System ..................... 276 5. Conclusion ............................................................................ 287 CHAPTER V: TOWARD AN ENHANCED AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS JUDICIAL SYSTEM ..........................293 1. Judicial Domestication: Incorporation of International Judicial Decisions into the Domestic System. ................. 298 1.1 Domestication through the Constitutional Regulation of the Foreign Affairs Power ................ 299 1.2 Consideration of International Law by Local Judges ................................................................ 302 2. Rationalising the Judicial Structure in the African Judicial System ..................................................................... 308 2.1 The Merger of Courts: The New African Court of Justice and Human Rights ........................ 310 2.2 Proposed Amendments to the Protocol on the Statute of the African Court of Justice and Human Rights ............................................................. 321 3. Conclusion ............................................................................ 354 EPILOGUE ........................................................................ 359 CONCLUSIONS ................................................................ 365 CHRONOLOGY OF AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS ...... 371 BIBLIOGRAPHY............................................................... 375 Enhancing the Enforcement of International Judicial Decisions in the African Human Rights System vii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS irst and foremost, I would like to thank all the beautiful Kenyan people who have adopted me. Here in this F fantastic country I have spent the best years of my life. A special thought is given to those who have suffered human rights abuses. I would like to thank Angel Gomez-Montoro, Rector of the University of Navarra, who first encouraged me and put me in contact with Prof. Romualdo Bermejo and Prof. Eugenia Lopez-Jacoiste, who guided me and triggered my interest in the African Human Rights System. I should also thank Pablo Sanchez-Ostiz, Dean of the School of Law at Navarra and Eduardo Valpuesta. As a student, I was immensely fortunate to meet people of the talent and stature of Justice Fatsah Ouguergouz, a prolific writer, international lawyer and judge of the African Court on Human and Peoples‘ Rights. Judge Fatsah gave me valuable insights; he was the first person at the Court with whom I discussed my ideas and his encouragement gave the final direction this work has taken. I also acknowledge the help of Justice Gerald Ninyungeko, President of the African Court on Human and Peoples‘ Rights, Justice Bernard Ngoepe, Justice Elsie Thompson and Justice Sylvain Ore, whose time and guidance opened my eyes in various matters. My gratitude is also expressed to Fidelis Katonga, the Court‘s librarian, who was instrumental in facilitating my access to literature and materials. viii Luis G. Franceschi Franceschi I also need to mention Prof. PLO Lumumba, former Director of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission, a friend and mentor, who has been waiting for my degree with eagerness superior to my mother‘s. Also, my maestros Gustavo Linarez-Benzo and Justice J.B. Ojwang. They both were instrumental in the beginning of my legal career and are now scholars of worldwide recognition. I should not omit Yash Pal Ghai, who has dedicated precious time to our discussions and kindly availed to me useful material. Special thanks to Prof. John Odhiambo, Vice Chancellor of Strathmore University and Prof. Patricia Kameri-Mbote, who has been a constant guide