ECOWAS Court Vows To Adjudicate on Human Rights Violations
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court says it will ensure adequate adjudication of cases concerning violations of human rights in member states.
The Vice President, of the Court Justice, Gberi-be Ouattara, stated this while speaking with Journalists during a sensitisation campaign to improve public awareness on the activities of the court in Ilorin, Kwara state.
According to him the campaign is intended to engage with the various stakeholders on the mandate, jurisdiction and access to the Court.
The Vice President explained that the exercise has been structured in such a way that the presentations respond to the specific needs of the target groups, mainly judges and judicial staff of the state, women groups, lawyers, students, the media, law lecturers as well as the police, immigration and Customs.
Justice Ouattara noted that the campaign will enable ECOWAS citizens appreciate the option the Court offers for the protection of their human rights in line with its mandate.
The delegation of the ECOWAS Court began a weeklong sensitization campaign designed to improve public awareness of the Court in Kwara state.
“The campaign, the first by the Court in the state since its establishment 20 years ago, is an important annual activity of the Court in Member States intended to engage with the various stakeholders on the mandate, jurisdiction and access to the Court.
“Hopefully, the campaign will not only improve awareness of the Court among ECOWAS citizens in the State but enable them to appreciate the option the Court offers for the protection of their human rights in line with its mandate”, Justice Ouattara said.
When asked if individuals can also approach the court he said individual has been given the go ahead to approach the court since 2005.
“Formerly it was only state but now the court is opened to all of us. The court is in Abuja. We are here for sensitization to let the population know the activities of the court”, he said
The week-long programme was preceded by courtesy visits to the State Governor, the Chief Judge of the State, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, the Emir of Ilorin, and the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ilorin branch.
In their various remarks, the Chief Judge of Kwara State, Hon. Justice Sulyman Durosinlorun Kawu expressed delight on the sensitization campaign about the court in the state, noting that it is a welcome development
The Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari who also expressed satisfaction on the outreach said since the court is about human right “you can not speak about human right without speaking about criminal aspect of its case” which the Vice President, ECOWAS court of Justice Hon.Justice Gberi-be Ouattara added that “sometimes violation of human rights comes from criminals, they kill people. The case you bring before the court, the court judge. The court is also virtual”, he added.
He also said that “The outreach will equally extend to civil society groups, women groups, workers, various associations, members of the academia and journalists.”
Meanwhile, the delegation also included three other judges including Justices Dupe Atoki, Keikura Bangura and Januaria T.S. Monterio Costa as well as staff of the Court.
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[21/02, 18:10] JC Taiwo Graph: Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court has said that it will ensure adequate adjudication of cases concerning violations of human rights in member states.
The Vice President, of the Court Justice, Gberi-be Ouattara, stated this while speaking with Journalists during a sensitisation campaign to improve public awareness on the activities of the court in Ilorin, Kwara state.
According to him the campaign is intended to engage with the various stakeholders on the mandate, jurisdiction and access to the Court.
The Vice President explained that the exercise has been structured in such a way that the presentations respond to the specific needs of the target groups, mainly judges and judicial staff of the state, women groups, lawyers, students, the media, law lecturers as well as the police, immigration and Customs.
Justice Ouattara noted that the campaign will enable ECOWAS citizens appreciate the option the Court offers for the protection of their human rights in line with its mandate.
The delegation of the ECOWAS Court began a weeklong sensitization campaign designed to improve public awareness of the Court in Kwara state.
“The campaign, the first by the Court in the state since its establishment 20 years ago, is an important annual activity of the Court in Member States intended to engage with the various stakeholders on the mandate, jurisdiction and access to the Court.
“Hopefully, the campaign will not only improve awareness of the Court among ECOWAS citizens in the State but enable them to appreciate the option the Court offers for the protection of their human rights in line with its mandate”, Justice Ouattara said.
When asked if individuals can also approach the court he said individual has been given the go ahead to approach the court since 2005.
“Formerly it was only state but now the court is opened to all of us. The court is in Abuja. We are here for sensitization to let the population know the activities of the court”, he said
The week-long programme was preceded by courtesy visits to the State Governor, the Chief Judge of the State, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, the Emir of Ilorin, and the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ilorin branch.
In their various remarks, the Chief Judge of Kwara State, Hon. Justice Sulyman Durosinlorun Kawu expressed delight on the sensitization campaign about the court in the state, noting that it is a welcome development
The Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari who also expressed satisfaction on the outreach said since the court is about human right “you can not speak about human right without speaking about criminal aspect of its case” which the Vice President, ECOWAS court of Justice Hon.Justice Gberi-be Ouattara added that “sometimes violation of human rights comes from criminals, they kill people. The case you bring before the court, the court judge. The court is also virtual”, he added.
He also said that “The outreach will equally extend to civil society groups, women groups, workers, various associations, members of the academia and journalists.”
Meanwhile, the delegation also included three other judges including Justices Dupe Atoki, Keikura Bangura and Januaria T.S. Monterio Costa as well as staff of the Court.
Edited by Felix Ajide
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