Part I International laws and mechanisms In 2004, the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Refugees, Asylum Seekers, and Internally Displaced Persons was established, which includes research, promotional and advisory functions as well as the undertaking of fact-finding missions and investigations. In 2006, the Commission extended the Special Rapporteur’s mandate to cover migration issues.149 In 1998, the Commission adopted a resolution on the Granting of Affiliate Status to NHRIs. To attain affiliate status, NHRIs of State parties to the Charter must conform to the Paris Principles. NHRIs with affiliate status can participate in public sessions of the Commission. They are also “required to assist the Commission in the promotion of the human rights at the country level” and must report regularly to the Commission on their activities.150 2.3.2. The Protocol to the Charter establishing an African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights The Protocol to the Charter establishing an African Court on Human and People’s Rights was adopted in 1998.151 The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights has jurisdiction to hear cases regarding the “interpretation and application” of the African Charter, the Protocol and “any other relevant human rights instrument ratified by the States concerned”.152 UN Photo by J Mohr. 149 “Special Rapporteur on Refugees, Asylum Seekers, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons”; African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights; www.achpr.org/mechanisms/refugees-and-internally-displaced-persons/. 150 Celebrating the African Charter at 30: A Guide to the African Human Rights System; African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, Pretoria University; South Africa; 2011; pp. 41-42. This document also contains a list of NHRIs with affiliate status. 151 At the time of writing, 26 Member States of the AU had ratified the Protocol: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cote d’Ivoire, Comoros, Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Libya, Lesotho, Mali, Malawi, Mozambique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Nigeria, Niger, Rwanda, South Africa, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia and Uganda; see “About the Court: A Brief History”; www.africancourt.org/en/index.php/about-the-court/brief-history. 152 See: “About the Court: A Brief History”; www.african-court.org/en/index.php/about-the-court/brief-history. Chapter 5: Regional mechanisms for the promotion and protection of the rights of migrant workers | 59