INTRODUCTION

REGIONAL INTER-GOVERNMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS HAVE been in operation for some time in Europe, the Americas, and Africa. These regional human rights regimes are based on regional human rights treaties such as the European Convention on Human Rights, the Inter-American Convention on Human Rights, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. They are enforced by such political organizations as the Council of Europe, the Organization of American States (OAS), and the Organization of African Unity (OAU).