The University of Lomé in Togo will host a two-day international colloquium from October 29-30, 2026, on regional human rights jurisdictions and their role in consolidating the rule of law. The event, organized by the Center for Public Law (CDP), brings together renowned academics, constitutionalists, judges, and public law specialists from several African countries and France. The colloquium aims to examine the role of regional jurisdictions in protecting human rights and promoting the rule of law.
The colloquium will feature a range of activities, including an inaugural lecture, two scientific panels, and two roundtable discussions. The panels will focus on topics such as the jurisdictional control of constitutional revisions, the authority of national decisions, the execution of community judgments, and the requirements of state sovereignty. The event is expected to provide a platform for experts to share their experiences and insights on the complex relationships between national and regional mechanisms for protecting fundamental rights.
The inaugural ceremony on October 29 will feature a welcome address by Professor Kossivi Hounake, President of the University of Lomé and Director of the CDP, and an opening address by Gilbert Bawara, Minister of Relations with Parliament and Institutions of the Republic. The highlight of the ceremony will be a lecture by Professor Alioune Sall, a renowned expert in public law and science, who will speak on the role of community jurisdictions in protecting human rights and promoting democracy.
The first scientific panel on October 29 will focus on the regional jurisdictional control of constitutional revisions and the protection of the rule of law. The panel will be moderated by Professor Dodzi Komla Kokoroko, a renowned expert in public law and science. The panel will examine the experiences of various regional jurisdictions, including the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, the African Court of Human Rights and Peoples, and the European Court of Human Rights.
The colloquium will also feature a presentation by Professor Adama Kpodar, former President of the University of Lomé and Director-General of the National School of Administration, who will provide a general doctrinal framework for the issues being examined. The event is expected to contribute to the clarification of the normative foundations of regional control and its limits.
One of the key topics to be discussed at the colloquium is the control of constitutional revisions, with a focus on the jurisprudence of regional jurisdictions. The Cour de justice de la CEDEAO has played a significant role in this area, and the colloquium will examine a recent decision by this court, which is expected to shed light on the contours, ambiguities, and limits of regional control.
The colloquium is expected to provide a platform for experts to share their experiences and insights on the complex relationships between national and regional mechanisms for protecting fundamental rights. The event will also provide an opportunity for participants to reflect on the role of regional jurisdictions in promoting democracy and the rule of law in Africa.
Key points
- The colloquium aims to examine the role of regional jurisdictions in protecting human rights and promoting the rule of law.
- The event will feature a range of activities, including an inaugural lecture, two scientific panels, and two roundtable discussions.
- The colloquium will provide a platform for experts to share their experiences and insights on the complex relationships between national and regional mechanisms for protecting fundamental rights.
