Extraterritorial human rights obligations from an African perspective

Abstract

Extraterritorial Human Rights Obligations from An African Perspective: Justice Beyond Borders' addresses the often neglected question of whether African regional human rights instruments impose extraterritorial obligations on State parties, and if so, the extent and scope of these obligations. The prevalence of extraterritorial violations of human and peoples' rights in the African system, due to the actions or omissions of African as well as non-African states, has not gone unnoticed. Strengthening extraterritorial obligations in Africa is an urgent necessity to ensure a rights-based African regional order that seeks to address, among other issues, challenges stemming from globalisation, accountability for human rights violations in Africa where a third state or entity (as well as an intergovernmental organisation) is involved, and to ensure respect and protection of the human rights of future generations. With the increasing quasi-judicial and judicial scrutiny of the extraterritorial reach of human rights and states' duties, at both international and regional levels, including from the African Commission, the African region is ripe for extraterritorial analysis.