Sierra Leone Hosts International Conference Of ECOWAS Court Of Justice
By Sahr Ibrahim Komba
Sierra Leone has hosted the International conference of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice. The event took place at the Freetown International Conference in Aberdeen.
The conference of ECOWAS Court of Justice is an annual tradition of hosting an international conference in collaboration with selected member states. The conference serves as a platform for the Court to explore important legal themes with judges from national and regional courts, legal scholars, members of the Bar Associations and other stakeholders from member states.
The conference also offers the Court a valuable opportunity to interact with important stakeholders from member states in order to strengthen its fraternal relation. The theme of this year’s conference is enhancing the Role, Relevance, and Effectiveness of the ECOWAS Court of Justice through the strengthening of synergies between the Court and the National Stakeholders.
Speaking at the event, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Mohamed Lamin Tarawally said that Sierra Leone is a testament in upholding justice in the region. He emphasized the crucial need to strengthen the role, relevance and effectiveness of the ECOWAS Court of Justice adding that it will help to build a strong synergy between the court and the national stakeholders. He mentioned that the ECOWAS Court of Justice promotes peace, stability and the rule of law across the region noting that Sierra Leone serves as a prime example of the transformative impact of the Court’s mandate leading to several reforms across ECOWAS member states. He furthered that the peace Sierra Leone enjoys today is as a result of the sacrifices brave soldiers made through ECOWAS in restoring peace in Sierra Leone. He said that the region is with numerous challenges in the advent of human rights violation. He urged member states to stand firm in the face of the adversity. It is important to strengthen the ECOWAS by bringing legal practitioners, legal scholars to chat the way forward he said. He disclosed that Sierra Leone has made significant steps in the promotion of human right and upholding the rule of law. He further urged member states to promote communities in different universities in the region.
In his statement, President Bio thanked the ECOWAS Court of Justice for choosing Sierra Leone for the conference. He said that the establishment of the ECOWAS Court of Justice is significant because it helps member states to uphold fundamental human rights in the region. He disclosed that the region has faced several challenges in recent years in terms of transnational organized crimes, unconstitutional change of governance, and human rights violation among others. President Bio expressed hope that democratic tenets can be upheld adding that the conference is timely and it will help to transform the justice sector in the region. He disclosed that Sierra Leone has always complied with the ECOWAS Court of Justice decision noting that there are cases that bears the country’s name and promised to facilitate access to justice. He urged member states to comply with the decision of the Court in order to uphold the integrity of the Court.
The Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, Hon. Sidie Mohamed Tunis said that the Court remains the beacon of hope noting that the West African Region belongs to a community of hope. He commended the Court for selecting the theme which resonates with the reality on the continent. He said that the current political climate has the propensity to create instability in the region. He urged the organization to fulfil its moral obligation of the court and further advocated for the inclusiveness of the court. He also urged the court to comply with the International treaty and encouraged the court to work with ECOWAS Parliament in upholding the Rule of Law.
