On 2 May 2025, the African Court of Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR, the Court) received a request for an advisory opinion concerning the obligations of states in the context of climate change. This development was anticipated: as early as 2023, there were indications such a request was in preparation (at 54:30) and, that same year, the African Commission issued a Call for Comments to the ‘Study on the Impact of Climate Change on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Africa’. This post examines three key aspects: (1) the contents of the petition, (2) its prospects with respect to jurisdiction and admissibility and (3) the potential contribution of an advisory opinion to the broader climate justice movement.
courts
How Regional Human Rights Courts Could Shape the ICJ’s Climate Opinion – EJIL: Talk! – Go Health Pro
In March 2023, the United Nations General Assembly requested an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on states’ responsibilities under international law to protect the climate system for current and future generations. The Court’s Opinion is expected to clarify the content and scope of human rights obligations and their implications for state … Read more
‘Rights of Nature’ in Human Rights Courts or a Parallel Protection System? – EJIL: Talk! – Go Health Pro
Editor’s note: This post is part of the EJIL:Talk! Symposium on ‘Expanding Human Rights Protection to Non-Human Subjects? African, Inter-American and European Perspectives.’ What role, if any, do human rights courts have in the protection of the natural world? Advisory Opinion 23 by the Inter-American Court on Human Rights marked, in my view, a potentially … Read more
AI’s Arrival in Dutch Courts · European Law Blog – Go Health Pro
Artificial intelligence tools are making waves across the legal sector. ChatGPT in particular is all the hype, with debates still ongoing about its potential role in courtrooms: from assisting judges in drafting opinions, to lawyers relying on AI-generated arguments, and even parties submitting ChatGPT-produced evidence. As a report on Verfassungsblog suggests, the “robot judge” is … Read more
Rebel v Elise Tankschiffahrt in the English and Dutch courts. A post-Brexit anti-suit collision in the making.. – gavc law – geert van calster – Go Health Pro
If you do use the blog for research or database purposes, citation would be appreciated, to the blog as a whole and /or to specific blog posts. Many have suggested I should turn the blog into a paid for, subscription service however I have resisted doing so. Proper reference to how the blog is useful … Read more