The charter has twenty-nine articles that go into great detail on the rights and freedoms that follow a strict code of non-discrimination.
Its first members were elected by the OAU's 23rd Assembly of Heads of State and Government in June 1987 and the Commission was formally installed for the first time on 2 November of that year.
For the first two years of its existence, the Commission was based at the OAU Secretariat in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, but in November 1989, it relocated to Banjul, Gambia.
[7] The countries of Africa, excluding Ethiopia and Liberia, are heavily influenced by colonialism, overall have a weak government, and a declining economy.
[3] In pursuit of these goals, the Commission is mandated to "collect documents, undertake studies and researches on African problems in the field of human and peoples, rights, organise seminars, symposia and conferences, disseminate information, encourage national and local institutions concerned with human and peoples' rights and, should the case arise, give its views or make recommendations to governments" (Charter, Art.
The ACHPR relies on a network of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that are required to submit reports to the commission every two years.