Assembly/AU/Decl.2(XXVIII) Page 1 DECLARATION ON THE COMMEMORATION OF THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE OPERATIONALIZATION OF THE AFRICAN COURT ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS Doc. EX.CL/999(XXX) We, the Heads of State and Government of the African Union, meeting at the 28 th Ordinary Session of the Assembly, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 30 to 31 January 2017; Recalling Executive Council Decision EX.CL/Dec.903(XXVIII), requesting the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Court) to “present, in collaboration with the AU Commission and the PRC, at the July 2016 Ordinary Session of the Assembly, through the Executive Council, a Declaration on the Commemoration of the 10 th Anniversary of the Operationalization of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights”. Recalling the adoption of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Protocol) on 9 June 1998, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Noting that the Protocol was established to enhance the protective mandate of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission) in particular, and the enjoyment and protection of human and peoples’ rights on the continent generally; Notingfurther the entry into force of the Protocol on 25 January 2004, the election of the first Judges of the Court in January 2006, and the swearing-in of the said Judges in July 2006, during the 7th Ordinary Session of the Assembly, held in Banjul, The Gambia, from 1 to 2 July 2006; Notingalso that 2016 marks the Tenth (10th) Anniversary of the operationalization of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights; and has been declared African Year of Human Rights with particular focus on the rights of women; 1. CONGRATULATE the Court, as it commemorates its Tenth Anniversary, for the laudable role it has played, in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders, particularly Member States, National Human Rights Institutions, Bar Associations and Civil Society Organisations and other partners, in enhancing the protection of human and peoples’ rights in Africa; 2. RECALL in particular the contribution of the Court in the development of the African human rights jurisprudence; 3. REITERATE our commitment made in the Banjul Declaration on the 25 th Anniversary of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, adopted during the 7th Ordinary Session of the Assembly in July 2006, and in this regard, RE-AFFIRM our full support to the Court, and commit ourselves to provide the necessary human and financial resources to allow the Court to discharge its functions effectively and efficiently, as well as to fully cooperate with and render all the necessary assistance to the Court; 28th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union, 30 - 31 January 2017, Addis Ababa