The Kenyan Section of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ-Kenya), leading legal and policy experts from across the continent convene in Cape Town, South Africa, from November 20 to 24 to reflect on the State of Judicial Independence in Africa.
The Annual Jurist Conference 2018 will draw its participants from jurists across the region including, President, Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association (CMJA); Hon. Justice Charles Mkandawire, Judge Supreme Court of Zimbabwe; Hon. Justice Paddington and Rtd. Chief Justice Dr. Willy Mutunga Immediate Former Chief Justice of the Republic of Kenya, judges, legislators, lawyers, policy experts and human rights activists. This year’s theme of the conference is “The State of Judicial Independence in Africa: Threats, Challenges and Opportunities”.
This year’s Annual Jurists Conference (AJC) proposes to examine the state of judicial independence in Africa, evaluate threats and challenges, identifying gaps in legislative and policy frameworks that weaken judicial independence, with a view to suggesting recommendations to strengthen judicial independence in the region.
Firstly, the conference will examine emerging threats to judicial independence such as in adjudication of electoral disputes, use of administrative action to discipline judicial officers and use of social media to undermine the credibility of judicial officers.
Secondly, it will examine the opportunities available at the international level that can be replicated in the region and consider its relevance in the African context. The Conference will also evaluate the opportunities existing in regional frameworks and mechanisms including the African Union.
Thirdly, it will scrutinize the role of the Executive and Parliament in these processes and re-evaluate the concepts of judicialization of politics and separation of powers principles.
Lastly, the conference will explore the role of the legal profession, civil society and the larger public in promoting and safeguarding the judicial independence, specifically in countering backlash on judicial independence.
Discussions include:
- The Journey of Judicial Reforms in Safeguarding Judicial Independence and Gains Achieved
- Application of Principles and Standards on Judicial Independence
- Experiences from Judges in the Region on Challenges and Emerging Threats to Judicial Independence
- Threats to Legal Profession and Stakeholders that Support Judicial Independence
- Regional Standards for Judicial Independence
- Anchoring regional standards for effective monitoring of judicial independence
For any media release or Interviews kindly contact Teresa on +254738494527 or Silas on +254723713096
Please also join our conversations on Twitter: #AJC2018 Visit Conference https://bit.ly/2FAvZoG
Kind regards,
Samwel Mohochi
Executive Director
Office Tel: +254-20-2084836/8|Office Mobile: +254 720 491549| Fax: +254-20-2625467
Email: communications@icj-kenya.org| Website: www.icj-kenya.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ICJ.Kenya| Twitter: twitter.com/#!/icjkenya
