It is 25 years since the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights was adopted yet the principles and standards contained in the Charter are not only poorly understood, but also all-too-often violated in many countries across the continent. Working together with local partners, INTERIGHTS’ Africa Programme has sought to strengthen the protection mechanisms of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, particularly in the areas of economic and social rights, liberty and security, and violence against women. It has also played a leading role in supporting the creation of an African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights which was finally established in July 2006. At the same time INTERIGHTS has provided advice at the local and regional level and has brought cases to the African Commission, the United Nations Human Rights Committee and some sub-regional courts concerning violations of the rights of individuals.