COMMUNITY

At a time when international law, multilateral cooperation, and human rights protections face mounting pressures, the institutions mandated to safeguard justice at the international and regional levels are more critical than ever. International and regional courts, commissions, and expert bodies are mechanisms through which individuals and communities seek protection, accountability is pursued, and the rule of law is upheld.

Their strength, however, depends not only on their formal mandates, but on the integrity, independence, and representativeness of those entrusted to serve within them. 

Across international and regional bodies, selection and nomination procedures often operate with limited transparency, opaque criteria, and insufficient public scrutiny. When appointment processes lack clarity, participation, and accountability, the legitimacy and effectiveness of institutions designed to protect rights are placed at risk.

Enhancing these procedures is essential. Transparent and merit-based processes strengthen institutional credibility, and clear criteria that promote equality create space to ensure gender parity and the meaningful inclusion of diverse voices — reflecting the societies these institutions are meant to serve. 

Driven by this commitment, GQUAL and the Arusha Initiative are proud to launch the African Human Rights System Toolkit, an interactive online platform that maps and explains the rules governing nomination and selection processes within key African Union human rights bodies.

This module provides a practical roadmap for three central mechanisms within the African Union’s human rights architecture: the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR), and the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC).

By launching this interactive guide, we aim to spark informed discussion and identify opportunities to improve selection processes. Our goal is to increase awareness and promote discussions on how these processes work and to enhance transparency by promoting higher standards of information, ensuring the suitability of those appointed. We also intend the tool to help bridge representation gaps in international bodies by providing more information and tools to promote more women and underrepresented groups to access these vital spaces.

“Who sits in international and regional human rights bodies shapes how justice is interpreted, whose experiences are recognized, and whose rights are prioritized. Selection processes are therefore not administrative details, they are gateways to power. This African module expands GQUAL’s comparative Toolkit, enabling us to examine procedures across systems, identify good practices – including rules on gender parity and geographic representation – and learn from them. We hope this tool demystifies these processes, supports informed discussion, encourages more qualified candidates to aspire to these roles, particularly women and underrepresented groups, and contributes to reforms that strengthen justice institutions.”, said María Leoni, GQUAL Campaign Director and Secretariat Member. 

“This toolkit reflects the shared commitment of the Gqual Campaign and the Arusha Initiative to open up and strengthen awareness of Africa’s human rights mechanisms—especially how nominations and selections are made. It is a practical resource to empower citizens, civil society, national human rights institutions, and academia to actively engage, foster transparency, and shape human rights in Africa” said Ikechukwu Uzoma, Co-Chair of the Arusha Initiative.

In an era of global crisis and institutional strain, revitalizing multilateral systems requires more than renewed rhetoric. It demands structural reform — including transparent rules, participatory procedures, and equal representation in decision-making. By advocating for systemic accountability and clearer standards, we help ensure that the institutions created to serve humanity remain credible, effective, and genuinely representative of justice and equality for all.

Explore the Toolkit