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Instruments of the AU
Reaffirming their adherence to the principles of human and peoples’ rights
and freedoms contained in the declarations, conventions and other
instruments adopted by the Organization of African Unity, the Movement of
Non-Aligned Countries and the United Nations;
Firmly convinced of their duty to promote and protect human and peoples’
rights and freedoms taking into account the importance traditionally attached
to these rights and freedoms in Africa;
HAVE AGREED as follows:
PART I: RIGHTS AND DUTIES
CHAPTER I: Human and Peoples’ Rights
Article 1
The member states of the Organization of African Unity parties to the present
Charter shall recognise the rights, duties and freedoms enshrined in this
Charter and shall undertake to adopt legislative or other measures to give
effect to them.
Article 2
Every individual shall be entitled to the enjoyment of the rights and freedoms
recognised and guaranteed in the present Charter without distinction of any
kind such as race, ethnic group, colour, sex, language, religion, political or
any other opinion, national and social origin, fortune, birth or other status.
Article 3
1.
Every individual shall be equal before the law.
2.
Every individual shall be entitled to equal protection of the law.
Article 4
Human beings are inviolable. Every human being shall be entitled to respect
for his life and the integrity of his person. No one may be arbitrarily deprived
of this right.
Article 5
Every individual shall have the right to the respect of the dignity inherent in
a human being and to the recognition of his legal status. All forms of
exploitation and degradation of man particularly slavery, slave trade,
torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment and treatment shall be prohibited.
Article 6
Every individual shall have the right to liberty and to the security of his
person. No one may be deprived of his freedom except for reasons and
conditions previously laid down by law. In particular, no one may be
arbitrarily arrested or detained.
Article 7
1.
Every individual shall have the right to have his cause heard. This
comprises:
(a) the right to an appeal to competent national organs against acts
violating his fundamental rights as recognised and guaranteed by conventions,
laws, regulation and customs in force;