AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES RIGHTS 1. To promote Human and People’s Rights and in particular: a) to collect documents, undertake studies and researches on African problems in the field of human and peoples' rights, organize seminars, symposia and conferences, disseminate information, encourage national and local institutions concerned with human and peoples' rights, and should the case arise, give its views or make recommendations to Governments. b) to formulate and lay down, principles and rules aimed at solving legal problems relating to human and peoples' rights and fundamental freedoms upon which African Governments may base their legislations. c) co-operate with other African and international institutions concerned with the promotion and protection of human and peoples' rights. 2. Ensure the protection of human and peoples' rights under conditions laid down by the present Charter. 3. Interpret all the provisions of the present Charter at the request of a State party, an institution of the OAU or an African Organization recognized by the OAU. 4. Perform any other tasks which may be entrusted to it by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government. Chapter III. Procedure of the Commission Article 46 The Commission may resort to any appropriate method of investigation; it may hear from the Secretary General of the Organization of African Unity of any other person capable of enlightening it. Communication from States Article 47 If a State party to the present Charter has good reason to believe that another State party to this Charter has violated the provisions of the Charter, it may draw, by written communication, the attention of the State to the matter. This communication shall also be addressed to the Secretary General of the OAU and to the Chairman of the Commission. Within three months of the receipt of the communication, the State to which the communication is addressed shall give the enquiring State, written explanation or statement elucidating the matter. This should include as much as possible relevant information relating to the laws and rules of procedure applied and applicable, and the redress already given or course of action available. Article 48 If within three months from the date on which the original communication is received by the State to which it is addressed, the issue is not settled to the satisfaction of the two States involved through bilateral negotiation or by any other peaceful procedure, either State shall have the right to submit the matter to the Commission through the Chairman and shall notify the other States involved. Article 49 Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 47, if a State party to the present Charter considers that another State par has violated the provisions of the Charter, it may refer the matter directly do the Commission by addressing a communication to the Chairman, to the Secretary General of the Organization of African Unity and the State concerned. Article 50 The Commission can only deal with a matter submitted to it after making sure that all local remedies, if they exist, have been exhausted, unless it is obvious to the Commission that the procedure of achieving these remedies would be unduly prolonged. Article 51 1. The Commission may ask the States concerned to provide it with all relevant information. 2. When the Commission is considering the matter, States concerned may be represented before it and submit written or oral representation. 7