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On 14 October at DAI Heidelberg, judges from Africa and Europe discussed how human rights courts respond to political pressure. The evening followed MPIL’s workshop “Human Rights: Rising under Distress? The African Court at 20”, marking the Court’s twentieth anniversary. 🧵(1/4)

MPIL Heidelberg

@mpil.de

MPIL Director Helmut Aust gave the welcome. @goldmatt.bsky.social,Professor of International Law at EBS Law School, moderated the discussion. (2/4)

MPIL Heidelberg

@mpil.de

Criticising a ruling is different from denying a court’s authority to decide. Ann-Katrin Kaufhold, Vice-President of Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court, drew that distinction. Anja Seibert-Fohr, an ECtHR judge, emphasised that judges must continue deciding cases independently. (3/4)

21/10/26, 10:48 am0 reposts1 like

MPIL Heidelberg

@mpil.de

But delivering a judgment does not ensure that it is put into practice. African Court President Blaise Tchikaya addressed that gap. The debate tied this to people seeking protection: do they know their rights, can they seek help nationally, and will judgments lead to action? (4/4)