The African Court Coalition held a two-day Training Workshop for 24 legal practitioners (Anglophone and Francophone) on the Rules of Procedure of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ right (the African Court) on the 8th and 9th of March 2013 at the Kibo Palace Hotel, Arusha Tanzania.

In this report sent by Sophia Ebby of the African Court Coalition, Arusha Tanzania, the outcome of the training workshop and the impact of ACC in the African sub-region is explored.

Facilitators for the Training were scholars and experts in litigation who have excellent experiences with regional courts as well as the African Court and African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. These included the former commissioner Bahame Tom Nyanduga, Professor Vincent O. Nmehielle, Dr. Robert Eno, Dr. Chacha Bhoke, Ms Mercy Deche and Dr. Joseph Yav Katshung.

All participants had an opportunity to attend a public hearing session at the African Court on Friday 8. The guest of Honor for the event was Madam President of the African Court, Justice Sophia Akuffo who was represented by the Registrar of the Court, Dr. Robert Eno. The training workshop is part of the African Court Coalition’s objectives to build capacity among lawyers and for better understanding of the rules of procedure of the African Court.

The African Court Coalition is a network of non-governmental organizations and Individuals that advocates for an efficient and effective African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Court) was founded in May 2003 In Niamey, Niger Republic. The key purpose for the establishment of the African Court Coalition is to have an effective and independent African Court in order to provide redress to victims of human rights violations and strengthen the human rights protection system in Africa.