What is General Comment No 3 on the African Charter on human and Peoples rights?

Asked by: Prof. Deanna Windler DDS  |  Last update: June 17, 2026
Score: 4.7/5 (13 votes)

General Comment No. 3 on the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, adopted in 2015, provides authoritative guidance on Article 4: The Right to Life, clarifying its scope, content, and obligations for States, emphasizing its non-derogable nature and applying to situations like armed conflict and extrajudicial killings, ensuring a coherent interpretation of this fundamental right across Africa.

What is the General Comment 3 of the African Commission on human and Peoples rights?

3. The General Comment proceeds from an understanding that the Charter envisages the protection not only of life in a narrow sense, but of dignified life. This requires a broad interpretation of States' responsibilities to protect life.

What is General Comment No 4 on the African Charter on human and Peoples rights?

General Comment No 4 on the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights: The Right to Redress for Victims of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Punishment or Treatment.

What is the African Committee on human and People's rights?

The African Commission on Human & Peoples' Rights is Africa's main human rights body, holding public sessions twice a year at which States' compliance under the African Charter on Human & Peoples' Rights is reviewed.

What is Article 30 of the African Charter on human and Peoples rights?

ARTICLE 30

An African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, hereinafter called “the Commission”, shall be established within the Organisation of African Unity to promote human and peoples' rights and ensure their protection in Africa.

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40 related questions found

What are the Article 2 and 3 of the human rights Act?

Article 2: Right to life. Article 3: Freedom from torture and inhuman or degrading treatment. Article 4: Freedom from slavery and forced labour. Article 5: Right to liberty and security.

What is Article 33 of the Charter?

Section 33(1) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (the Charter) permits Parliament or the legislature of a province to adopt legislation to override certain rights and freedoms for a limited period, subject to renewal.

What is Article 3 of the African Charter on human and Peoples rights?

3. All peoples shall have the right to the assistance of the States parties to the present Charter in their liberation struggle against foreign domination, be it political, economic or cultural.

What is the African Charter of human and People's rights?

One result was the African Charter, which was unanimously adopted at an OAU meeting of African heads of state and governments held in Kenya on 27 June 1981. The Charter laid out a range of rights and duties that should always be respected. It also established the African Commission to oversee its implementation.

What is the main function of the African Commission on Human and People's rights?

The African Commission is tasked with promoting and protecting human rights by interpreting the African Charter and considering individual complaints. Established in 1986 and located in Banjul, The Gambia, the commission hears cases from the 53 Member States of the African Union (all except South Sudan).

What is the general comment number 4?

The purpose of General Comment No. 4 is to provide Governments with guidance on the scope of their obligation to provide quality inclusive education for people with disability.

What is Article 8 of the African Charter?

The African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) from 1981, which entered into force in 1986, is Africa's oldest human rights instrument. Article 8 of the ACHPR states: “Freedom of conscience, the profession and free practice of religion shall be guaranteed.

What is Article 5 of the Charter?

Article 5. A Member of the United Nations against which preventive or enforcement action has been taken by the Security Council may be suspended from the exercise of the rights and privileges of membership by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council.

What is General Comment 4 of the African Commission?

This General Comment focuses on the right to redress for victims of torture and other ill-treatment under Article 5 of the African Charter. That Article provides: . “Every individual shall have the right to the respect of the dignity inherent in a human being and to the recognition of his legal status.

What does article 3 of the Declaration of human rights mean?

Article 3. Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Who is the current chairperson of the AUC?

The current chairperson of the African Union Commission is H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Djibout.

What are examples of human rights issues?

Human Rights Issues

  • Arbitrary Detention.
  • Crimes Against Humanity.
  • Forced Disappearance.
  • Sexual and Gender-based Violence.
  • Genocide.
  • Summary Execution.
  • Torture.
  • War Crimes.

What is the purpose of the Charter of human rights?

The main purpose of the Charter is to ensure consistency in the way people are treated by one another and by their institutions: it applies to relationships among individuals and to the relationship between individuals and the state.

What are the key features of the human rights Act?

The Human Rights Act is a UK law passed in 1998. It lets you defend your rights in UK courts and compels public organisations – including the Government, police and local councils – to treat everyone equally, with fairness, dignity and respect.

What is article 3 of the UN Charter?

Article 3 The original Members of the United Nations shall be the states which, having participated in the United Nations Conference on International Organization at San Francisco, or having previ- ously signed the Declaration by United Nations of January 1,1942, sign the present Charter and ratify it in accordance ...

What is the African Charter summary?

It is the strategic framework for delivering on Africa's goal for inclusive and sustainable development and is a concrete manifestation of the pan-African drive for unity, self-determination, freedom, progress and collective prosperity pursued under Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance.

What are the key principles of the Charter?

The core principles of the UN Charter – sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence – must be protected. The U.S. will continue to affirm that no member-state has the right to redraw borders by force or repress their own people.

What is the main point of article 33?

Article 33 - Individual responsibility, collective penalties, pillage, reprisals. No protected person may be punished for an offence he or she has not personally committed. Collective penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism are prohibited. Pillage is prohibited.

What is Article 96 of the Charter?

Article 96

Other organs of the United Nations and specialized agencies, which may at any time be so authorized by the General Assembly, may also request advisory opinions of the Court on legal questions arising within the scope of their activities.

What does Article 38 of the Statute of the International Court of Justice make provision for?

Article 38 of the 1945 Statute of the International Court of Justice stipulates the legal concept of general principles of law, which stipulates that the common legal principles recognized by civilized countries constitute general principles of law.