EU access to justice project expands to NBR, CRR

By Amadou M Jadama Janet Ramatoulie Sallah Njie, key expert on modern law, has revealed  that the European Union-funded Access  to Justice and Legal Education pilot project has been extended to two regions, North Bank and Central River regions for a six-month extension. This new development was disclosed on Thursday during the orientation meeting held at Ocean Bay Hotel in Bakau. In her welcoming remarks, Janet Ramatoulie  Sallah-Njie, said: “The campaign was executed by for key partners: the National Council for Civic Education (NCCE), National Agency for Legal Aid (NALA), the Alternative Dispute Resolution Secretariat (ADRS), and the Female Lawyers Association- The Gambia (FLAG).” According to her the implementers were supported by a technical committee constituted by key national stakeholders who are duty-bearers in the realm of access to justice and therefore played a very vital role in the design, content and mode of implementation of the project. Madam Sallah Njie further disclosed: “Following the successful implementation of the three pilots in the three regions, an evaluation and review of the project was carried out with the review report making significant recommendations to ensure the sustainability of the civic awareness campaign.” She added: “We are indeed fortunate and honored that through the magnanimity of the European Union, the project is benefitting from a six months extension, thus affording us the opportunity to implement the Adjusted Model of the Civic Awareness Campaign in two more regions of the Gambia, namely CRR and NBR.”’ The overall campaign has been extended beyond the narrow ambit of sensitizing and raising awareness on accessing the tripartite justice system, she said. “The content will be expanded to include, amongst other things, democracy and the role of citizens in a democracy; responsibilities of citizens in a democracy; civic rights and duties; roles and responsibilities of institutions and structures within the community; prevention of corruption and corrupt practices as well as employment and labour rights. “It is hoped that through this extended mandate, we would be able to address, on a holistic basis, the whole ambit of the civic rights and duties of the communities, and raise their awareness to enable them seek redress and appreciate their roles and responsibilities in a democracy.” Madam Sallah Njie commended particularly the experts of the project, campaign implementers and everyone that contributed to great achievements of the civic awareness campaign. She called on all to work together, cooperate and come up with the best solutions for the rest of the civic awareness campaign. Nicoletta Dortoluzzi, Project Manager Eurecna Spa, recalled that the project started in 2014 and has so far been very successful. “The civic awareness campaign is one of the main components of the project and I am proud to say this is one of the most successful.” The European Union-funded Access to Justice and Legal Education Project aims to contribute to better democratic and economic governance, in the Gambia, through improving access to justice and legal education. Its objectives are to improve access to legal service/ remedial justice, especially for vulnerable groups; legal education, training and research skills as well as information, and management of cases. A major focus of the project is the civic awareness campaign which is geared towards ensuring that local communities are aware of their basic legal rights and obligation, and how and where to seek redress. The overall goal of the campaign is to enhance access to justice through civic and legal education and provision of information on available justice mechanisms. The specific objectives are to: promote public awareness on civic rights and duties; promote public awareness on the obligations of law enforcement agencies as well as disseminate knowledge and enhance confidence in the tripartite justices system.]]>