52 A practical guide to the Istanbul Protocol – for lawyers ment record of States is generally weak. Most States have tended to pay compensation when ordered in judgments by the European Court of Human Rights and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights but have often failed to comply with orders to institute investigations and to bring about legislative changes. The enforcement is even weaker with regard to quasi-judicial bodies, such as the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Committee against Torture and the Human Rights Committee where states have either largely ignored decisions or even openly refused to comply. A glaring example is the recent decision by the Sri Lankan Supreme Court in the Singarasa case, where it held that Sri Lanka is not bound to comply with the views of the UN Human Rights Committee because the ICCPR is not implemented in national law and the views of the Committee are not binding.208 It is therefore imperative for lawyers to followup decisions with the national authorities, to seek enforcement before domestic courts or to inform the relevant human rights bodies about inadequate or lacking implementation. III. REGIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS SYSTEMS 1. THE AFRICAN SYSTEM FOR PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS a. African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Established by the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which came into force on 21 October 1986 after its adoption by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights is charged with ensuring the promotion and protection of Human and Peoples’ Rights throughout the African continent. The procedure followed by the Commission in considering complaints is of a highly confidential nature. Complaints can be made by States (against other States Parties) or by others (physical or moral person, private or public, African or international persons). In the latter case, the Commission considers complaints at the request of the majority of its members. Provisional measures If the victim’s life, personal integrity or health is in imminent danger, the Commission has the power under Rule 111 of its Rules of Procedure to adopt provisional measures, thereby urging the State concerned not to take any action that will cause irreparable damage to the victim until the case has been heard by the Commission. The Commission can also adopt other urgent measures as it sees fit. Admissibility of complaints Individuals and organisations may lodge a complaint with the African Commission alleging that a State Party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights has violated one or more of the rights guaranteed. For a complaint to be admissible: • The communication must include the author’s name even if the author wants to remain anonymous • The communication must be compatible