Institutionalizing Human Rights: The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights

Professor Tom Ginsburg will interview Justice Ben Kioko, former Vice President of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, in a conversation exploring the evolution, institutional development, and future of human rights adjudication on the African continent.

Justice Ben Kioko served as a judge of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights from 2012 to 2024, including five years as Vice President. During his tenure, he played a central role in strengthening inter-court dialogue with regional and international human rights tribunals, accelerating case management reforms, and expanding institutional cooperation across the African Union and beyond. Prior to joining the Court, he was the longest-serving Legal Counsel of the African Union, where he oversaw treaty drafting, legal advisory functions, and major institutional transformation initiatives. In 2024, he received the American Society of International Law’s Honorary Member Award in recognition of his distinguished contributions to international law.