Article 56
Communications relating to human and peoples' rights referred to in 55 received by the
Commission, shall be considered if they:
1.

Indicate their authors even if the latter request anonymity,

2.

Are compatible with the Charter of the Organization of African Unity or with the
present Charter,

3.

Are not written in disparaging or insulting language directed against the State
concerned and its institutions or to the Organization of African Unity,

4.

Are not based exclusively on news discriminated through the mass media,

5.

Are sent after exhausting local remedies, if any, unless it is obvious that this
procedure is unduly prolonged,

6.

Are submitted within a reasonable period from the time local remedies are exhausted
or from the date the Commission is seized of the matter, and

7.

Do not deal with cases which have been settled by these States involved in accordance
with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, or the Charter of the
Organization of African Unity or the provisions of the present Charter.

Article 57
Prior to any substantive consideration, all communications shall be brought to the
knowledge of the State concerned by the Chairman of the Commission.

Article 58
1.

When it appears after deliberations of the Commission that one or more
communications apparently relate to special cases which reveal the existence of a
series of serious or massive violations of human and peoples' rights, the Commission
shall draw the attention of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government to these
special cases.

2.

The Assembly of Heads of State and Government may then request the Commission
to undertake an in-depth study of these cases and make a factual report,
accompanied by its findings and recommendations.

3.

A case of emergency duly noticed by the Commission shall be submitted by the latter
to the Chairman of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government who may

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