Human rights can be difficult to understand. They are defined as what is believed to belong to every person. Examples are the right to life, freedom from slavery, and the right to be treated equally before the law. While many people believe it is important that everyone has human rights, they can be difficult to enforce. One way to help implement them is through a document which states what human rights are and how they should be enforced. In Africa this is done through the Banjul Charter, which is officially known as the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

What is it?

The Banjul Charter is a document which seeks to promote and protect human rights across Africa. It is named after Banjul, the capital city of The Gambia, because this is where the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) is based. The ACHPR is the organisation in charge of interpreting the Banjul Charter.

Why was it written?

In 1948, the United Nations (UN) adopted a document called the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It detailed what the UN thought were the fundamental rights and freedoms of all humans. The document had a big influence on international law. However, one problem was that it made European and American values seem universal. The Banjul Charter was adopted in 1981 as an African response. It was drafted by the Organisation of African Unity, which has since been replaced by the African Union.

How does it work?

The charter is enforced by national governments in their own countries. 54 of the 55 countries in Africa have signed the charter. The only country which has not yet signed is Morocco. By signing the charter, each country has agreed to protect the rights described in the document. The ACHPR is tasked with guiding governments on how to do this. Some countries, such as Nigeria, have made the charter part of their domestic law. Other countries, such as Benin, have used it to decide high profile court cases.

Conclusion

Thanks to the Banjul Charter, it is easier for people in Africa to demand that their human rights are respected. If governments fail to uphold human rights on behalf of their people, there is a document which can be used to highlight that their actions are not legal. Crucially, this document has been drafted by Africans. This prevents the document from being used as a tool to maintain European colonialism. Hopefully, the charter will help to stamp out all human rights abuses across Africa.