African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (1981/1986)
Also sometimes called the ‘Banjul Charter’, the African Charter was adopted by the OAU in Nairobi, Kenya, on 27 June 1981 and entered into force on 21 October 1986. The Charter is the pivotal human rights instrument of the OAU/ AU. It recognises individual rights as well as peoples’ rights, rights and duties, and some socio-economic rights, in addition to civil and political rights. The supervisory mechanism created by the Charter is the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which had its first meeting in 1987. The Commission is now being supplemented with an African Human Rights Court. The Commission’s mandate includes the review of periodic state reports on the implementation of the Charter by state parties. The Commission also has the power to review individual and inter-state complaints. All AU members are state parties to the African Charter.

Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa
Adopted in Maputo, Mozambique on 11 July 2003 and entered into force on 25 November 2005. By the end of May 2011, 30 states have become party to this Protocol.

Rules of Procedure of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
These rules have been revised by the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights during its 47th Ordinary Session held in Banjul, The Gambia, from 12 to 26 May 2010 and entered into force 18 August 2010. These Rules of Procedure replace the previous Rules of Procedure of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, which were adopted during its 2nd Ordinary Session held in Dakar, Senegal, from 8 to 13 February 1988 and revised during the 18th Ordinary Session held in Praia, Cape Verde, from 2 to 11 October 1995.