Download or read book THE IMPLEMENTATION OF MODERN AFRICAN CONSTITUTIONS Challenges and Prospects written by Charles M. Fombad and published by PULP. This book was released on 2016-12-30 with total page 247 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Contemporary Governance Challenges in the Horn of Africa written by Charles Manga Fombad and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2022-09-06 with total page 245 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book argues that a leading cause of the political instability in the Horn of Africa is a crisis of governance, caused by extreme centralization of power, weak institutions, and the failure to institutionalise the responsible use of authority. In recent years, many attempts have been made to resolve the ongoing conflicts in Somalia and South Sudan, but problems remain, and in 2019 the instability spread to Ethiopia. This book critically examines how many of the governance problems in the region can be addressed through institutional design. The central argument is that an inclusive system of governance through federalism, devolution, and inclusive political institutions as well as ensuring the institutionalization of power through strengthening the rule of law has the potential to make governments more accountable, inclusive, and be able to deliver critical services. Such systems ensure relative stability and peace and reduce the risks of state fragmentation – a major concern in the region. Demonstrating that the threats of further fragmentation and conflict due to the crisis of governance are likely to continue unless serious steps are taken to deal with the situation, the book will be an important read for researchers and policy makers with an interest in peacemaking, politics, constitutional law, and federalism in the region.

Download or read book Decentralization and Constitutionalism in Africa written by Charles M. Fombad and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2019-09-10 with total page 673 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This collection of essays assesses the efforts of African governments to constitutionalise decentralisation, be it in the form of federalism, local government or traditional authorities. Since the end of the Cold War jurisdictions across Africa have witnessed an ostensible return to multi-party democracy within the paradigm of constitutionalism and the rule of law. Linked to the democratisation process, many countries took steps to decentralize power by departing from the heavily centralized systems inherited from colonial regimes. The centralization of power, typically characterized by the personalization and concentration of power in the hands of leaders and privileged elites in capital cities, mostly resulted in repressive regimes and fragile states. As decentralisation is a response to these challenges, this volume analyses the dynamic relationship between the efforts to implement decentralization and presence or absence of constitutionalism. This volume examines a variety of forms and degrees of decentralization found across Africa. It advances a new understanding of trends and patterns and facilitates the exchange of ideas among African governments and scholars about the critical role that decentralisation may play in democratization of and constitutionalism in Africa.

Download or read book Democratic Governance Law and Development in Africa written by Maame Efua Addadzi-Koom and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2022-12-10 with total page 723 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume analyses democratic governance, the rule of law and development in Africa. It is unique and timely. First, the theme and sub-themes were carefully selected to solicit quality chapters from academics, practitioners and graduate students on topical and contemporary issues in constitutional law, human rights, and democratic governance in Africa. The chapters were subjected to a single-blind peer review by experts and scholars in the relevant fields to ensure that high quality submissions are included. Due to the dearth of knowledge and studies on the chosen thematic areas, the publication will remain relevant after several years due to the timeless themes it covers. In this regard, this edited volume audits the progress of democratic consolidation, rule of law and development in Ghana with selected case studies from other African countries. This book is intended for higher education institutions (universities, institutes and centres), public libraries, general academics, practitioners and students of law, democracy, human rights and political science, especially those interested in African affairs.

Download or read book The Church of Central Africa Presbyterian 1924 2024 written by Kenneth Ross and published by African Books Collective. This book was released on 2024-02-29 with total page 478 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in issues of church unity, justice, liberation, biblical transformation, dignity, hope, joy, resilience, peace, prayer and reconciliation. The best Malawian scholars have drawn from their academic expertise and personal experience to give the reader a thick picture of the journey of unity among the Synods of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. This publication is a must-have for all who have the unity of the CCAP at heart." Prof Isabel Apawo Phiri, Former Deputy General Secretary, World Council of Churches and Vice Chancellor, University of Blantyre Synod

Download or read book Research Anthology on Citizen Engagement and Activism for Social Change written by Management Association, Information Resources and published by IGI Global. This book was released on 2021-11-26 with total page 1611 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Activism and the role everyday people play in making a change in society are increasingly popular topics in the world right now, especially as younger generations begin to speak out. From traditional protests to activities on college campuses, to the use of social media, more individuals are finding accessible platforms with which to share their views and become more actively involved in politics and social welfare. With the emergence of new technologies and a spotlight on important social issues, people are able to become more involved in society than ever before as they fight for what they believe. It is essential to consider the recent trends, technologies, and movements in order to understand where society is headed in the future. The Research Anthology on Citizen Engagement and Activism for Social Change examines a plethora of innovative research surrounding social change and the various ways citizens are involved in shaping society. Covering topics such as accountability, social media, voter turnout, and leadership, it is an ideal work for activists, sociologists, social workers, politicians, public administrators, sociologists, journalists, policymakers, social media analysts, government administrators, academicians, researchers, practitioners, and students.

Download or read book Comparative Constitutional Law in Africa written by Rosalind Dixon and published by Edward Elgar Publishing. This book was released on 2022-12-06 with total page 419 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This timely book is a crucial resource on the rich diversity of African constitutional law, making a significant contribution to the increasingly important field of comparative constitutional law from a historically understudied region. Offering an examination of substantive topics from multiple jurisdictions, it emphasises issues of local importance while also providing varied perspectives on common challenges across the continent.

Download or read book Constitutional Knowledge and Its Impact on Citizenship Exercise in a Networked Society written by Melro, Ana and published by IGI Global. This book was released on 2019-03-15 with total page 332 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: National constitutions allow citizens to exercise full citizenship rights, leading to a growing importance in understanding these laws. This knowledge, more widespread thanks to the ever-growing use of digital networks, allows for more enlightened national citizens in every corner of the world. Constitutional Knowledge and Its Impact on Citizenship Exercise in a Networked Society is a pivotal reference source that analyzes how constitutional awareness occurs in various countries and how citizenship participation is encouraged through the use of digital tools. While highlighting topics such as mobile security, transparency accountability, and constitutional awareness, this publication is ideally designed for professionals, students, academicians, and policymakers seeking current research on citizens' lack of awareness of their rights.

Download or read book African Human Rights Yearbook Annuaire Africain des Droits de l Homme Volume 1 2017 written by and published by Pretoria University Law Press. This book was released on 2017-01-01 with total page 405 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: African Human Rights Yearbook Volume 1 (2017) The three institutions making up the African regional human rights system, the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, decided to jointly publish the African Human Rights Yearbook, to spearhead studies on the promotion and protection of human rights, and to provide a forum for constructive engagement about the African human rights system with academics and other human rights commentators on the continent. Volume 1 of the Yearbook, published in 2017, contains fifteen contributions by scholars from Africa and beyond. Annuaire Africain des Droits de l’Homme Volume 1 (2017) Les trois institutions qui composent le système régional africain des droits de l’homme, la Cour africaine des droits de l’homme et des peuples, la Commission africaine des droits de l’homme et des peuples et le Comité d’experts africains sur les droits et le bien-être de l’enfant ont décidé de publier conjointement l’Annuaire Africain des Droits de l’Homme pour encourager les études sur la promotion et la protection des droits de l’homme et offrir un forum d’interaction constructive sur le système avec les universitaires et observateurs du continent. Le Volume 1 de l’Annuaire, publié en 2017, contient quinze contributions de chercheurs du continent et d’ailleurs. Table of Contents Acknowledgements/Remerciements Preface Préface Editorial Éditorial Vulnerability of women in Africa to extrajudicial killings Anyangwe, A Protecting the African child in a changing climate: are our existing safeguards adequate? Boshoff, E The relevance of substantive equality in the African regional human rights system’s jurisprudence to women’s land and property rights Chekera-Radu, YT Practices and challenges in implementing women’s right to political participation under the African Women’s Rights Protocol in Zimbabwe Zvobgo, EF and Dziva, C Developing norms and standards on maternal mortality in Africa: lessons from UN human rights bodies Afuluke-Eruchalu, O and Durojaye, E Le rôle des acteurs nongouvernementaux dans la mobilisation juridique en faveur du Protocole de Maputo Guignard, L Happy 18th birthday to the African Children’s Charter: not counting its days but making its days count Mezmur, BD Monitoring implementation of the decisions and judgments of the African Commission and Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights Murray, R; Long, D; Ayeni, V; and Somé, A Why should we obey you? Enhancing implementation of rulings by regional courts Nyman-Metcalf, K and Papageorgiou, I Contextualising the corporate human rights responsibility in Africa: a social expectation or legal obligation? Okoloise, C La promotion de la démocratie et d’un ordre constitutionnel de qualité par le système africain des droits fondamentaux: entre acquis et défis Olinga, AD La jurisprudence de la Cour africaine des droits de l’homme et des peuples: entre particularisme et universalité Ondo, T Actualising women’s participation in politics and governance in Africa: the case of Ghana and Kenya Owiso, R and Sefah, B Article 6 of the African Women’s Rights Protocol: towards the protection of the rights of women in polygamous marriages Oyugi, P ‘It is better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer’: the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights and fair trial rights in Tanzania Possi, A Du ‘droit de la force’ à la force du droit: pour la dépénalisation de l’avortement à Madagascar Rabenoro, M La Cour et la Commission africaines des droits de l’homme et des peuples: noces constructives ou cohabitation ombrageuse? Yerima, SZ

Download or read book The Gambia in transition Towards a new constitutional order written by Satang Nabaneh and published by Pretoria University Law Press. This book was released on 2022-09-01 with total page 372 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Gambia opened a new chapter in her history after 22 years of authoritarian rule under former dictator Yahya Jammeh, heralding the promise of a ‘New Gambia.’ The country is at a critical juncture in its transition from Jammeh’s autocratic rule to a fully-fledged democracy. The ambitious transitional processes include the Truth Reparations and Reconciliation Commission to create an official record of past abuses and crimes, the Constitutional Review Commission to draft a new Constitution, and the permanent National Human Rights Commission to build a human rights culture. The Gambia in transition: Towards a new constitutional order is a diverse collection of timely, rigorous, and insightful essays on human rights, constitutional reform, rule of law and democratic governance. It serves as an important reference for academics, policymakers, researchers, civil society organisations, human rights defenders, learners, and the public at large.

Download or read book Democracy Elections and Constitutionalism in Africa written by Charles M. Fombad and published by Oxford University Press, USA. This book was released on 2021-03-11 with total page 577 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume examines democracy and elections in Africa, taking stock of the state of constitutional democracy on the continent after the democratic gains of the 1990s and 2000s, focusing on how competitive politics or multiparty democracy can be realized and how, through competition, such politics could lead to better policy and practice outcomes.

Download or read book Eternity Clauses in Democratic Constitutionalism written by Silvia Suteu and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2021-04 with total page 338 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book analyses unamendability in democratic constitutionalism and engages critically and systematically with its perils, offering a much-needed corrective to existing understandings of this phenomenon. Whether formalized in the constitutional text or developed as part of judicial doctrines of implicit unamendability, eternity clauses raise fundamental questions about the core democratic commitments underpinning any given constitution. The book takes seriously the democratic challenge eternity clauses pose and argues that this goes beyond the old tension between constitutionalism and democracy. Instead, eternity clauses reveal themselves to be a far more ambivalent constitutional mechanism, one with greater and more insidious potential for abuse than has been recognized. The 'dark side' of unamendability includes its propensity to insulate majoritarian, exclusionary, and internally incoherent values, as well as its sometimes purely pragmatic role in elite bargaining. The book adopts a contextual approach and brings to the fore a variety of case studies from non-traditional jurisdictions. These insights from the periphery illuminate the prospects of unamendability fulfilling its intended aims - protecting constitutional democracy foremost among them. With its promise most appealing in transitional, post-conflict, and fragile democracies, unamendability reveals itself, counterintuitively, to be both less potent and potentially more dangerous in precisely these contexts. The book also places the rise of eternity clauses in the context of other significant trends in recent constitutional practice: the transnational embeddedness of constitution-making and of constitutional adjudication; the rise of popular participation in constitutional reform processes; and the ongoing crisis of democratic backsliding in liberal democracies.

Download or read book African Human Rights Law Journal Volume 20 No 2 2020 written by and published by Pretoria University Law Press. This book was released on 2020-01-01 with total page 531 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In 2020, the African Human Rights Law Journal (AHRLJ or Journal) celebrates 20 years since it first was published. The AHRLJ is the only peer-reviewed journal focused on human rights-related topics of relevance to Africa, Africans and scholars of Africa. It is a time for celebration. Since 2001, two issues of the AHRLJ have appeared every year. Initially published by Juta, in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2013 it became as an open-access journal published by the Pretoria University Law Press (PULP). PULP is a non-profit open-access publisher focused on advancing African scholarship. The AHRLJ contains peer-reviewed articles and ‘recent developments’, discussing the latest court decisions and legal developments in the African Union (AU) and regional economic communities. It contains brief discussions of recently-published books. With a total of 517 contributions in 40 issues (436 articles and 81 ‘recent developments’; not counting ‘book reviews’), on average the AHRLJ contains around 13 contributions per issue. The AHRLJ is accredited with the International Bibliography of the Social Sciences (IBSS) and the South African Department of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, and appears in a number of open access portals, including AfricanLii, the Directory of Open Access Journals and SciELO. Over the 20 years of its existence, many significant articles appeared in the AHRLJ. According to Google Scholar the mostcited articles that have appeared in the Journal over this period are (i) T Metz ‘Ubuntu as a moral theory and human rights in South Africa’ (2011) 11 African Human Rights Law Journal 532-559 (with 273 citations); (ii) D Cornell and K van Marle ‘Exploring ubuntu: Tentative reflections’ (2005) 5 African Human Rights Law Journal 195- 220 (with 97 citations); (iii) S Tamale ‘Exploring the contours of African sexualities: Religion, law and power’ (2014) 14 African Human Rights Law Journal 150-177 (with 85 citations); K Kindiki ‘The normative and institutional framework of the African Union relating to the protection of human rights and the maintenance of international peace and security: A critical appraisal’ (2003) 3 African Human Rights Law Journal 97-117 (with 59 citations); and T Kaime ‘The Convention on the Rights of the Child and the cultural legitimacy of children’s rights in Africa: Some reflections’ (2005) 5 African Human Rights Law Journal 221-238) (with 54 citations). This occasion allows some perspective on the role that the Journal has played over the past 20 years. It is fair to say that the AHRLJ contributed towards strengthening indigenous African scholarship, in general, and human rights-related themes, specifically. Before the Journal there was no academic ‘outlet’ devoted to human rights in the broader African context. Both in quantity and in quality the Journal has left its mark on the landscape of scholarly journals. The AHRLJ has provided a forum for African voices, including those that needed to be ‘fine-tuned’. Different from many other peerreviewed journals, the AHRLJ has seen it as its responsibility to nurture emerging but not yet fully-flourishing talent. This approach allowed younger and emerging scholars to be guided to sharpen their skills and find their scholarly voices. The AHRLJ has evolved in tandem with the African regional human rights system, in a dialogic relationship characterised by constructive criticism. When the Journal was first published in 2001, the Protocol on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Court Protocol) was not yet in force. Over the years the Journal tracked the evolution of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Court) from a faltering start, through a phase when it increasingly expressed itself in an emerging jurisprudence, to the current situation of push-back by states signalled by the withdrawal by four states of their acceptance of the Court’s direct individual access jurisdiction. The same is largely true for the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (African Children’s Committee). It was in 2001 that the AU elected the first members of this Committee. It first met in 2002, and its first decade or so was lackluster. The Committee examined its first state report only in November 2008, and decided its first communication in March 2011. Articles by authors such as Mezmur and Sloth-Nielsen, who also served as members of the Committee, and Lloyd, placed the spotlight on the work of the Committee. Initially, these articles primarily served to describe and provide information that otherwise was largely inaccessible, but over time they increasingly provided a critical gaze and contributed to the constructive evolution of the Committee’s exercise of its mandate. By 2011 the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Commission) was already quite well established, but it also underwent significant growth over the subsequent 20-year period. Numerous articles in the Journal trace and analyse aspects of this evolution. Contributions in the Journal also cover most of the AU human rights treaties and soft law standards. A number of issues contain a ‘special focus’ section dealing with a thematic issue of particular relevance or concern, such as the focus on the Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Women (2006 no 1); ‘30 years of the African Charter’ (2011 no 2); and ‘sexual and reproductive rights and the African Women’s Protocol’ (2014 no 2). The scope of the Journal extends beyond the supranational dimension of human rights. Over the years many contributions explored aspects of the domestic human rights situation in countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe. From time to time the specific focus sections also veered towards domestic human rights protection. See for instance the focus on 20 years of the South African Constitution (2014 no 2); on ‘adolescent sexual and reproductive rights in the African region’ (2017 no 2); on ‘the rule of law in sub-Saharan Africa’ (2018 no 1); and on ‘dignity taking and dignity restorations’ (2018 no 2).

Download or read book Separation of Powers in African Constitutionalism written by Charles M. Fombad and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2016-03-03 with total page 500 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The new series Stellenbosch Handbooks in African Constitutional Law will engage with contemporary issues of constitutionalism in Africa, filling a notable gap in African comparative constitutional law. Separation of Powers in African Constitutionalism is the first in the series, examining one of the critical measures introduced by African constitutional designers in their attempts to entrench an ethos of constitutionalism on the continent. Taking a critical look at the different ways in which attempts have been made to separate the different branches of government, the Handbook examines the impact this is having on transparent and accountable governance. Beginning with an overview of constitutionalism in Africa and the different influences on modern African constitutional developments, it looks at the relationship between the legislature and the executive as well as the relationship between the judiciary and the political branches. Despite differences in approaches between the different constitutional cultures that have influenced developments in Africa, there remain common problems. One of these problems is the constant friction in the relationship between the three branches and the resurgent threats of authoritarianism which clearly suggest that there remain serious problems in both constitutional design and implementation. The book also studies the increasing role being played by independent constitutional institutions and how they complement the checks and balances associated with the traditional three branches of government.

Download or read book Governance Human Rights and Political Transformation in Africa written by Michael Addaney and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2019-11-19 with total page 433 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This edited volume examines the development and challenges of governance, democracy, and human rights in Africa. It analyzes the emerging challenges for strengthening good governance in the region and explores issues related to civil, political, economic, cultural, and social rights highlighting group rights including women, girls, and other minority groups. The project presents a useful study of the democratization processes and normative developments in Africa exploring challenges in the form of corruption, conflict, political violence, and their subsequent impact on populations. The contributors appraise the implementation gap between law and practice and the need for institutional reform to build strong and robust mechanisms at the domestic, regional, and international levels.

Download or read book Challenged Justice In Pursuit of Judicial Independence written by Shimon Shetreet and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2021-08-24 with total page 588 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The book offers articles by senior jurists on important aspects of judicial independence and judicial process in many jurisdictions, including indicators of justice. It comes at the time of serious challenges to the judiciary, the rule of law and democracy.

Download or read book Constitutionalism and the Economy in Africa written by Charles M. Fombad and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2022-11-14 with total page 465 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Despite expectations that the celebrated second wave of constitutional democracy in the 1990s would facilitate economic development, Africa remains the continent with the highest level of poverty in the world. The fight against poverty hinges on a vibrant economy that creates jobs and income by generating enough revenue to enable the state to take pro-development measures. However, instead of the economic benefits that were supposed to accrue from the constitutional reforms of the last three decades (including entrenching a market economy), African economies remain weak, a situation that has been aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic. By focusing on the relationship between constitutionalism and economic growth in Africa, this volume addresses five questions: (1) In the constitutional reforms of the 1990s and thereafter, did constitutions also reflect the shift towards a market economy, and if so, in what manner? (2) Given that agriculture and extractive industries are the main sources of state revenue in many African economies, how are matters of land and other natural resources dealt with constitutionally? (3) Where the market economy is captured in a constitution, what is the state's relationship to that economy: interventionist or laissez-faire, or somewhere in between? Have constitutions also established a 'social' state that provides its citizens with the basic elements of a dignified life? (4) In the process of constitution-making and implementation concerning the economy, what impact has globalization had on constitutionalism and economic growth in Africa? (5) Finally, how has the relationship between constitutionalism and economic growth played out in practice? Is there a symbiotic relationship? Has constitutionalism led (or may do so) to greater economic prosperity? Constitutionalism and the Economy in Africa offers a range of comprehensive arguments and case studies that will be of interest and use to academics, post-graduate students, judges, lawyers, economists, and policy makers involved in the economic role of the State, the impact of globalization, and the constitutional foundations for land and natural resources exploitation.