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Momodou
Denmark
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 Posted - 12 Nov 2009 : 13:19:52
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Government Asked to Withdraw Threat on Human Rights Defenders
By Saikou Ceesay
In what could be described as an official threat made by the Gambia government against human rights defenders in the country, the President of the West African Bar Association (WABA) Mr. Femi Falana has called on the government in Banjul to take advantage of the session to withdraw the threat.
He made this assertion on Tuesday 10th November 2009 at a two day workshop at Sheraton hotel in Brufut organized by the West African Bar Association with the support of Mac Arthur Foundation. According to Falana, the forum would provide opportunity for lawyers and journalists to reposition themselves in the promotion and defense of human rights.
He said the session has coincided with what he calls ‘a crucial session’ of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights taking place here in Banjul, noting that it is regrettable, but quite understandable too that many Non Governmental Organizations and Civil Society Organizations have decided to boycott the session in Banjul in their bid to protest against the official threat to the security of human rights defenders in Banjul.
Falana observed that in view of the weaknesses of the judiciary in some member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), “It is remarkable that many community citizens are turning to the Community Court of Justice for the enforcement of their human rights”. In this regard, he said the court has risen to the challenge by attending to human rights cases without fear or favor. Thus, in the case of Mani Hadijatou Vs Niger Republic, the Court declared slavery illegal in Niger while the detention of a journalist in the case of Ebrima Manneh Vs the Republic of the Gambia was also illegal.
To this end, he informed audiences the need for a vigilant press to expose human rights violations and a virile and active Bar to ensure that all cases of human rights violations are challenged either at municipal courts or regional institutions.
He posited that the WABA is not unaware of the decision of the ECOWAS to impose limited sanctions on the Republic of Guinea and the Republic of Niger. Meanwhile, the theme of the Forum is “The Bar and Media Interaction on the Promotion of Human Rights in West Africa” organized by West African Bar Association with the support of Mac Arthur Foundation.
He said the Bar, media and other civil society groups in West Africa should fight along with the people of Guinea and Niger to restore constitutionalism in both countries. He went on to say that WABA is collaborating with the NGOs that have challenged the violation of the constitutional rights of Niger people at the ECOWAS Court, while stating that WABA supports the investigation being conducted with respect to the killings in Guinea by the Special Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.
For this, he said they are going to work with the Guinean Bar Association in demanding for compensation for the families of those who were massacred by armed gendarmes during the September 28 rally in Conakry.
Presenting a paper at the forum Mrs. Amie Bensouda, President of the Gambia Bar Association said the Commission is the premier regional institution for the protection of human rights in Africa. She explained that the work of the commission is influenced by the many human rights organizations that dedicate time and resources in identifying and bringing before it cases of human rights abuses.
Madam Bensouda observed that a lot of progress has been made in Africa in promoting and creating awareness of human rights and the establishment of sub-regional and regional mechanisms like the ECOWAS Court, the committee of experts on children and the Commission. Despite these, she said there have also been major set backs. She said the sub-region has witnessed in recent times the brutal repression of the most basic freedoms, as well as the systematic erosion of political rights by self-perpetuating regimes, amidst growing poverty and the unaddressed needs of peoples. Bensouda indicated that it is of great essence that the Bar Associations are able to explore mechanisms, strategies and tools for enhancing their efforts to protect civil society, pointing out that the creation of protective alliances is a key strategy. She told participants from the region that an alliance of Media and Bar would be a dynamic force in creating effective networks, raising public awareness and advocacy campaign.
Representatives including journalists, lawyers and human rights defenders attended the two day forum.
Source: Daily News
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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