FIFTEEN students from the Arcadia Centre for East African Studies, which is a branch of the Arcadia University (US), toured the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights over the weekend.

The Arcadia Centre for EA studies is housed at the Nyerere Centre for Peace Research, based in Arusha. The research and training facility was established through an association of the Arcadia University in the United States and the East African Community Secretariat here.

At their arrival at the Seat of the Court, in Majengo area, the delegation was received by Mr Emmanuel Agbor, the Head of the Language Unit and Officer in Charge, on behalf of the Registrar of the Court. Mr Agbor welcomed the students and then led them around the main departments of the Court including the registry, the library and the courtroom to show them how the Court operates.

After the tour of different departments of the Court, the visitors were invited to a conference room and briefed on the establishment of the Court, its mandate, jurisdiction, composition, structure, applicable law, functions and structures, and so on. Mr Agbor also elaborated on the admissibility of applications and procedures for bringing cases as well as litigating before the Court and institutions that have immediate access to the Court.

The students appreciated the briefing by Agbor and expressed their interest in the operations of the Court. They asked many questions seeking information on the Court, sources of funds, languages used, and the challenges facing the Court, especially the low rate of ratifications of the Protocol establishing the Court and deposit of declaration.