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ECOWAS Court To Toughen Up On Human Rights Protection

The Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is making plans to set up a legal aid scheme to assist … Continue reading ECOWAS Court To Toughen Up On Human Rights Protection


ECOWAS Member States Meet Over Implementation Of IHL

ecowasThe Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is making plans to set up a legal aid scheme to assist indigent citizens of West Africa.

The West African Union is also looking to use the scheme to secure the protection and enforcement of their fundamental human rights in member states.

According to the President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, Justice Maria  Monteiro, series of meetings of Council of Ministers are underway to concretise the plans and ensure that citizens are aware of their rights and the availability of the regional court for their protection.

Equal Opportunity To Access Justice

At the opening of the 2015/2016 legal year of the ECOWAS Court on Saturday, Human Rights Lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, said that the legal aid scheme would ensure that access to the regional court was not limited to a privileged few.

The focus for the 2015/2016 legal year is the creation of enabling legal environment for regional integration and the consolidation of the human rights mandate of the ECOWAS Court of Justice.

To ensure the realisation of the targets, the court must ensure that every West African citizen in the sub-region, has equal opportunity to access justice through the court.

The President of the Court, however, said that West African citizens must first know their rights and the opportunities the court holds towards their protection.

Justice Monteiro also explained that the court was meeting with Council of Minister of member states and also creating awareness among citizens to improve access.

The human rights mandate of the ECOWAS Court came into force in 2005, with the responsibility to resolve conflicts between citizens and their member states.

So far, over 150 cases of violation of human rights have been decided by the court.

Given the high rate of conflicts in the West African region, a legal aid scheme would undoubtedly flood the court with more cases of violation, a development Justice Monteiro said the regional court was set to deal with.

The opening of every legal year of the ECOWAS Court of Justice is often a time for the regional court to set targets for the sub-region and make projections towards a firmer and more progressive integration of the ECOWAS sub region, where justice and the respect for the fundamental human rights of West African citizens are respected and protected.