Preparations have been finalised to harmonise the rules and procedures of the Banjul-based pan-african rights body, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), and the newly-established African Court, the commission’s chair, Sanji Mmasenono, announced in a press communique’ Wednesday. According to her, the issue was part of resolutions made at the end of fourth ex tra-ordinary session of the African commission recently held at the Corenthia At l antic Hotel in Banjul, the Gambia. This session is held, among other reasons, to finalise considerations of the Af rican Commissions “revised rules of procedure” ahead of a meeting with the African Court, later this year, to harmonise the rules of the two institutions. She went on to stress that the commission was mandated to collaborate with a range of human rights stakeholders and institutions across the continent. This collaboration, cooperation and harmonisation of activities with other huma n rights bodies means that the African Commission needs to re-examine its own rules of procedure, especially with the African Court on Human and Peoples Rights, with which the African Commission will be working very closely, she said.
