Group photo for members of the Civil Society and EACJ staff with the Permanent Secretary Ministry of EAC Affairs Republic of Rwanda, Mr. Innocent Safari (M), EACJ Judge President, Hon. Dr. Emmanuel Ugirashebuja (2nd R), Former EACJ Judge President, Hon. Harold Nsekela (2nd L), Justice John Eudes Ruhangisa (last L) and Representative of Raoul Wallenberg Institute, Head Office Kenya Mr. Josh Ounsted (last R).[/caption]
East African Court of Justice Arusha 25th September 2014: The East African Court of Justice Workshop for the Judges of the National Courts and the Civil Society Organizations on the role of the Court in the East African Community integration has been officially closed by the Hon. Minister of East African Community Affairs Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Innocent Safari.
In the closing remarks by the Permanent Secretary said that the EACJ is a court for the EAC Citizens and encouraged this is the right time to understand better and use the Court as the judicial organ of the community for interpretation of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community. The Minster encouraged all the stakeholders to work closely with the Court and to give it necessary support to ensure that justice is fairly rendered to all.
“I congratulated the Honourable Judge President and the Court upon this milestone which has been a success and I expect the participants have benefited a lot from such rich discussions on the EACJ functions, operations, achievements and challenges which will enable you to understand how to access and use the regional Court.
The Permanent Secretary pledged that through the Ministry of EAC, the Republic of Rwanda will continue supporting the East African Court of Justice in increasing awareness to the public to ensure the East Africans enjoy the benefits of the regional integration through adherence to justice, rule of law and fundamental rights and freedoms through the interpretation and application of and compliance with the East African law.
The Judge President of the EACJ, Hon. Justice Dr. Emmanuel Ugirashebuja commended the participants for sparing their time to be part of the EACJ workshop and encouraged everyone to advocate for the Court in the Region in particular the Republic of Rwanda. He further thanked the Raoul Wallenberg Institute for their continuous support to strengthening and increasing awareness of the Court. He also appreciated the Ministry of EAC Affairs for the great support rendered to Court which has enabled this workshop a success.
The representative of the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights, Head Office Kenya, Mr. Josh Ousted thanked the EACJ for the good cooperation and partnership and pledged continuous support of the Court in increasing visibility to promote the Regional Integration agenda.
The workshop was attended by the Judges of the National Courts, Members of the Civil Society Organization, Private Sector, Academia, legal institutions, and media. In attendance also was the representative from the Embassy of Sweden in Kigali, Ms. Maria Hakanson, the former EACJ Judge President Justice Harold R. Nsekela, and Hon. Justice Prof. John Eudes Ruhangisa Judge of the High Court United Republic of Tanzania, Ms. Geraldine Umugwaneza, Ag. Registrar of the East African Court of Justice and other Judges of the National Courts of Rwanda.
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Geraldine Umugwaneza Registrar East African Court of Justice
Email: umugwaneza@eachq.org
Owora Richard Othieno, Head of Department;
Corporate Communications and Public Affairs;
Tel: +255 784 835021; Email: othieno@eachq.org]]>
EACJ workshop for Judges of the National Courts & Civil Society workshop concludes
