By The Arusha News Reporter
The Arusha-based Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU) and several NGOs have filed an application to formally request an Advisory Opinion from the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR), also in Arusha, regarding the obligations of African states to protect human rights in the face of the escalating climate crisis on the continent.
PALU’s Chief Executive Officer, Donald Deya, handed the request to the ACHPR Registrar, Dr Robert Eno on May 2, 2025 in accordance with Article 4(1) of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Establishment of the African Court and Rule 82(1) of the Court’s Rules.
“We have submitted the request and ACHPR could take up to a week to respond accordingly,” said Mr Deya in response to a question asked by a reporter from The Arusha News about the anticipated timeline for the Court’s response.
Joining PALU were African Climate Platform and several African civil society organisations, including Natural Justice and the AdviEnvironmental Lawyers Collective for Africa.
Together, the civil society organisations want the African Court to clarify the responsibilities of states in protecting the rights of environmental human rights defenders, women, children, indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities and the elderly.
