Nairobi, 16 October 2015 – Over 160 representatives of Africa's judiciary and law enforcement authorities agreed today to ensure the enforcement and practical implementation of environmental law, which they described as a precondition to achieving inclusive, sustainable development in the region.
The agreement was made at the 1st Africa Colloquium on Environmental Rule of Law in Nairobi, organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Office of the Chief Justice of Kenya, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the Judiciary Training Institute of Kenya (JTI).
Ibrahim Thiaw, Deputy Executive Director of UNEP said, "The success in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and the ‘Africa We Want’ agenda hinges on our ability to harness Africa's bountiful natural resources to power peaceful, inclusive and sustainable development.
"Guaranteeing citizens' participation, access to justice and information in environmental matters, combating the illegal trade in wildlife and other forms of environmental crimes, and harmonizing legal frameworks between countries will create equal opportunities for all, help to eliminate poverty and ensure sound management of Africa's ecosystems."
The Chief Justice of Kenya, Hon. Willy Mutunga, in his welcoming remarks, invited participants to come up with recommendations on areas and priorities for action and formulate mechanisms for implementation. He expressed his delight that his office is partnering with UNEP and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in this inaugural colloquium.
Delegates also called for the development of a roadmap that would lead to the full regional implementation of Principle 10 of the Rio de Janeiro Declaration and UNEP's 'Bali Guidelines', which – with their pillars of access to information, access to justice and public participation – are essential to promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development.
“A lot of progress has been made in both legislative reforms and judicial interventions in Africa. The way forward is to develop a roadmap for regional instruments on the implementation of Rio +10 and the Bali guidelines,” said Prof Muhammed Twafiq Ladan, from Zaria University, Nigeria.
The colloquium offered an opportunity to exchange information and share good practices in advancing environmental rule of law in Africa. These success stories highlighted the crucial role that the judiciary, prosecutors, auditors, government representatives, civil society and the private sector and other related enforcement officials play – individually and collectively – in advancing environmental rule of law in the region.
The colloquium concluded with The Nairobi Statement, which called upon African countries to integrate mechanisms to ensure adequate access to information, public participation and justice in environmental matters through a regional process and framework. The Statement further called for integration of environmental law into the curricula of judicial and other training institutes. It also emphasized the need for the establishment of a regional network on environmental rule of law to facilitate regular and continuous exchange of information, knowledge and experiences in the region.
The colloquium recognized the critical role of mutual legal assistance and urged all countries in the African region to enhance transboundary cooperation to combat the illegal wildlife trade and other environmental crimes.
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Prof. Githu Muigai, the Attorney General of Kenya
Dr. Willy Mutunga, the Chief Justice of Kenya
