Garfield Ekon

Staff Member

The millions of African who suffered under the brutal regime of slavery, must be honoured through reparatory justice, according to Secretary General of the United Nations (UN), António Guterres.

In his message to commemorate the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, on Monday, he said many of those who organised and ran the slave trade, amassed huge fortunes, and the enslaved were deprived of education, healthcare, opportunity, and prosperity.

“We call for reparatory justice frameworks, to help overcome generations of exclusion and discrimination. We appeal for the space and necessary conditions for healing, repair, and justice. And above all, we resolve to work for a world free from racism, discrimination, bigotry, and hate. Together, as we remember the victims of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, let us unite for human rights, dignity, and opportunity for all,” he said.

Adding that the lives of the victims were ruled by terror, as they endured rape, floggings, lynchings and other atrocities and humiliations, he noted that it laid the foundations for a violent discrimination system based on white supremacy that still echoes today, and descendants of enslaved Africans and people of African descent are still fighting for equal rights and freedoms around the world.

The commemoration was held under the theme: “Celebrating Global Freedom: Countering Racism with Justice in Societies and Among Nations,” and delivering the keynote address, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, who is the Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Commission on Reparation and Social Justice,  urged the world body to back a reparatory justice programme ,and end colonisation within the Caribbean.

““I urge the United Nations therefore, as part of its reparatory justice programme, to recommit to recommit to the agenda of decolonisation so that this crime against humanity which began in the Caribbean can finally come to an end with the ending of colonisation,” he said.

For over 400 years, more than 15 million men, women and children were the victims of the tragic transatlantic slave trade, one of the darkest chapters in human history.

Professor Beckles stressed that the payment of moral and development reparations for the crimes against African people, will at the very beginning represent the formation of a “new and more equitable” global order that will represent a break from historical backwardness and lay the future for the dawn of a “dignified dispensation for all of humanity,” he told his audience.

A partnership has been forged between ta 55-member African Union and the Caribbean Community (Caricom) of 20 countries with an aim to intensify pressure on former slave-owning nations to engage with the reparation’s movement.

March 9, 2024 – In her remarks to the opening ceremony on 4 March 2024, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, told more than 400 ministers, senior government officials, and other dignitaries from across the world’s six regions:

“It is our responsibility to drive forward the paradigm shift agreed at our last meeting in Mauritius to deliver on the Commonwealth Access to Justice Declaration and ensure that people of the Commonwealth know they have access to justice because they can taste it, see it and feel it.”

In light of escalating crises around the world, she commended the work of Commonwealth law ministers while calling for even greater emphasis to be placed on justice as an “essential strength” in overcoming the current challenges.

The Secretary-General urged ministers ahead of their deliberations to dig deeper with rigour and courage to ensure that the commitments are not just words on paper but the lived experience of all.

A timely opportunity

The meeting was inaugurated by H.E. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, who underscored the crucial role of law in addressing unprecedented global challenges and described the meeting as a timely opportunity to cooperate on strengthening legal systems.

She said:

“This forum will open doors for further collaboration, innovation, and collective action as we strive to meet the evolving needs of our societies.

“Together, we can build a better future where justice prevails, and the rights of every individual are protected to sustain sustainable development across Commonwealth nations.”

Reflecting on the meeting’s theme, ‘How digitalisation paves the way for the development of people-centred access to justice’, the President highlighted her government’s use of technology to enhance legal services, including through the rollout of time-saving e-courts.

She also spoke about the ‘Mama Samia Legal Aid Campaign’, which offers legal aid and information to citizens on various issues, including gender-based violence and dispute resolution.

Hosted by the United Republic of Tanzania, the biennial meeting is the principal decision-making body for law ministers from the 56 Commonwealth countries.

Over the next four days, ministers will deliberate on the policy and strategic actions required to address access to justice challenges, especially for women, people with disabilities and those living in poverty.

Ministers will also exchange innovative practices on evidence-based policymaking and the effective use of digital resources to bridge gaps and enhance the delivery of justice services.

Justice gap

More than 5.1 billion people – two-thirds of the world’s population – lack meaningful access to justice. Lost income and stress-related illness due to seeking legal redress can cost countries up to 3 per cent of their gross domestic product every year.

Hon Ambassador Dr Pindi H. Chana, the meeting’s Chair and the United Republic of Tanzania’s Minister of Constitutional and Legal Affairs, said the gathering would facilitate a meaningful dialogue to overcome legal hurdles facing countries.

She added:

“From promoting access to justice to strengthening legal frameworks, our discussions over the coming days will contribute to shaping the future of law and governance within the Commonwealth countries.

“Together, we can build a Commonwealth where justice and equality reign supreme.”

A moment of silence was observed during the ceremony to honour the late President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Ali Hassan Mwinyi, who passed away on 29 February 2024.

Alongside the meeting, a series of side events are being organised to ensure diverse perspectives, from disability inclusion to digital trade law, contribute to ministerial discussions.

A statement summarising the meeting outcomes will be issued on 8 March 2024, which will support countries in realising the mandates set out in the Commonwealth Access to Justice Declaration – a commitment by all 56 member countries to ensure universal access to justice.

Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer 

#Kenya, December 21, 2023 – Saving Haiti from the current crisis is becoming less of just spoken word and more of real action as Kenya is scheduled to send more than one hundred soldiers to the republic come February 2024.

This is according to reports on Sunday by Kenyan authorities, following Haiti’s visit to Nairobi, Kenya on Wednesday December 13th.  The Haitian delegation was led by Mr. Frantz Elbé, Director General of the Police National D’Haiti (PNH) or Haitian National Police in English, and it included members of the High Command and Senior Officers from the Ministry of Justice.

Elbé, according to the PNH, met with the Director General of the Kenyan Police and his Deputy Inspector General in charge of the Administrative Police.

This meeting was to discuss technical details related to the deployment of the Multinational Support Mission to Security (MMAS).

Reports say that regarding the mission, Kenya is demanding the disbursement of a first portion of $230 million. Also, it is important that the potential cost of the mission is noted, that is USD$600 million, reports say.