Right Group strengthens the capacity of lawyers in Human Rights and Strategic Litigation in Cameroon.
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The Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA) on 23 and 25 March 2022 trained over 80 lawyers from the North Wes and South-West Regions of Cameroon in strategic litigation in Buea.
On their official Facebook Page, CHRDA notes that ‘ Human Rights and Strategic Litigation for Lawyers. Strategic Litigation is very important in the advancement, respect, protection and fulfilment of Human Rights at the national and international levels. Human Rights Defenders faced challenges on issues relating to strategic litigation, especially in conflict situations.’
CHRDA stated on their social media platforms that the objective of their strategic litigation is to prevent human rights violations, help victims and facilitate accountability and that strategic litigation can be through courts, tribunals, advocacy, and other international institutions
According to Barrister Agbor Balla, the President of CHRDA, while speaking to the press, strategic litigation is very important in the course of advocating for human rights violations, especially in repressive countries. He said that strategic litigation takes time but it is effective in that at the end of the day, the goal for which the litigation was initiated is achieved. He also reiterated that the collective effort of human rights defenders is key to success when it comes to strategic litigations in conflict situations.
As stated by Barrister Nkea Emmanuel, one of the facilitators, strategic litigation does not only involve the judiciary but other means like lobbying for diplomatic support and advocacy for change. He further reiterated that there is a need for lawyers/human rights defenders to know the standard definition and criteria for crimes of concern to the international community such as crimes against humanity, genocide, and war crimes. To him, knowing the definition of these crimes will help in the course of strategic litigation.
According to Amnesty International, The overall purpose of our strategic litigation work is to support victims of human rights violations and human rights defenders and to achieve systemic change. Supporting victims of human rights violations and safeguarding human rights defenders often involves being involved in legal proceedings (litigation). Litigation is the term used to describe proceedings initiated between two opposing parties to enforce or defend a legal right. In human rights, litigation is “strategic” when it is consciously designed to advance the clarification, respect, protection and fulfilment of rights. The idea is to change laws, policies and practice, and to secure remedies or relief following violations. Strategic litigation is also often about raising public awareness of an injustice.
Berinyuy Cajetan is the founder and publisher of Human Rights and Legal Research Centre (HRLRC) since 2017. He has intensive experience in strategic communications for Civil Society Organizations, campaign and advocacy, and social issues. He has an intensive experiencing in human rights monitoring, documentation and reporting.
