The excesses of some African governments in the violation of human rights, to consolidate their grip on power after independence, forced pressure groups both within and outside the continent to lobby the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), to establish a human rights protection mechanism in Africa.



The Centre's main objective is to give meaning " to promote and ensure, through teaching, education and publication, respect of the rights and freedoms contained in the Charter and to see to it that these freedoms and rights, as well as corresponding obligations are understood."