The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has reaffirmed its role as the principal judicial organ of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), with the mandate to interpret and apply the bloc’s legal instruments.
The Court said its functions include promoting the rule of law and safeguarding the human rights of citisens and other people within the ECOWAS region.
It said the Court plays a key role in strengthening justice, legal compliance and the protection of fundamental rights across the West African region.
The President of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, Ricardo Goncalves, stated this when declaring open a 3-day training of The Network of ECOWAS member States Journalists covering the Community Court of Justice, in Abuja Nigeria.
The President of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice represented by The Vice President of the Court, Justice Sengu Koroma, said public Understanding of the Court’s mandate, processes, procedures and the Impact of its judgments on the people and region remains limited, due to gaps in journalists’ reportage on the Court.
According to him, journalists occupy an important position in Communicating the work of courts to the public.
He said accurate and Responsible rebirthing of judicial proceedings enables citisens to Better understand the mandate of judicial institutions, their Decisions and the implications of those decisions for individuals,Member States and the region.
“To report judicial proceedings accurately, journalists must have a clear Understanding of the Court’s mandate, its jurisdiction, and composition. And Structure”. Justice Goncalves said.
He believed that the Journalists should be knowledgeable about the Court’s Competence, practice and procedure, and the rationale for the decisions of the Court and distinguish between the pleadings of the panics regarding The facts of the Case, their pleas in law and their prayers on the one hand; and on the Other hand the findings of the Court based on the evidence.
Accurate Reporting
The President of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice said it is of paramount Importance that journalists in reporting the decisions of the Court Must avoid bias, sensationalism, misinformation and disinformation, by reporting accurately the Findings, reasoning and decisions of the Court.
“This training is therefore very important for the Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS as it will contribute to increased public awareness of its mandate, Jurisprudence and impact in our sub-region; Strengthening the capacity of the Network of journalists covering the Court, will enhance the visibility of the Court’s work, promote judicial accountability, and increased awareness across Member States,” he re-iterated.
On his part, the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice Registrar, Dr.Yaouza Ouro-sama said the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice occupies a Distinctive place within the institutional architecture of its Regional integration process.
He said the Court is not simply a judicial institution where cases are Filed, argued and determined; through its judgments, orders and Jurisprudence, bit that the Court contributes to the development of principles of law, the protection of human rights, access to justice and the Strengthening of the rule of law within the ECOWAS Community.
Dr. Ouro-Sama, represented by the Acting Deputy Registrar, Mrs. Marie Saine, believed that journalism serves as an important bridge between the Court and the public.
“Through responsible journalism, a judgment Delivered in the courtroom can reach citizens far beyond the Courtroom; Through accurate reporting, a complex legal principle can be explained in language that ordinary citizens can understand,” he explained.
According to him, through accurate and context-rich reporting,Citizens can understand not only what the Court decided, but what the Decision means and why it matters.
ECOWAS Court Registrar added that“reporting on judicial proceedings Requires particular knowledge and professional judgement; a court Reporter is not merely reporting an event; he or she is reporting a Process governed by legal rules, procedures and principles; should be Able to distinguish between allegations of parties and established Facts, between the submissions of parties and the findings of the Court, between procedural decisions and substantive determinations,And between the legal significance of a decision and expressing a Personal opinion about whether the decision is right or wrong; these Distinctions are fundamental to credible judicial reporting,” the Registrar said .
Dr. Ouro-Sama re-emphasised that effective and credible reporting therefore requires more than announcing the outcome of a case, it requires an understanding of the material facts, the issues before the Court, the relevant legal framework, the Court’s reasoning and the orders ultimately made.
