East African Court of Justice to develop five-year strategic plan to guide its operations
ARUSHA, Tanzania, February 24, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The East African Court of Justice (EACJ) today embarked on the development a strategic plan that will guide and direct its activities in the next five years; 2010-2015. The five year strategic analysis will help identify the Court’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, thereby providing an insight into its future.
A three-day workshop whose participants are charged with developing the strategy is currently ongoing at the Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge. It is hoped that the strategy will build upon strengths and take advantage of opportunities while overcoming and minimising the effects of weaknesses and threats. After conducting a comprehensive strategic analysis of the Court, participants have identified four strategic issues; Design of the Court under the Treaty, Appreciation of the Court, Visibility of the Court, and the Capacity of the Court.
The Court’s five-year strategic plan will be incorporated into the East African Community five-year Development Strategy (2011-2015). The strategic analysis/plan is part of the efforts the Court is making to define its own specific integral role in the EAC integration process as it prepares itself to become an active/key player.
The planning workshop has drawn the participation of all the Judges of the East African Court of Justice and Court staff who will work towards the transformation of the EACJ into a well-designed tool of justice to address the legal challenges emanating from the wider and deeper integration of the Community.
Background information
The workshop was preceded by a four-day preparatory retreat held in November 2009 in Moshi, Tanzania that was meant to spell out the challenges the Court had been and was still facing, and set out clearly its vision, mission, objectives and strategies that would guide its direction in the next five years.
About the East African Court of Justice (EACJ)
The East African Court of Justice (the Court), is one of the organs of the East African Community established under Article 9 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community.
The Court’s major responsibility is to ensure the adherence to law in the interpretation and application of and compliance with the Treaty. Arusha is the temporary seat of the Court until the Summit determines its permanent seat. The High Courts of the Partner States serve as sub-registries.
The EACJ is constituted of two Divisions: First Instance Division and Appellate Division. The First Instance division is at any given time composed of not more than ten (10) Judges whereas the Appellate Division is comprised of 5 Judges.
The Judges of the Court are appointed by the Summit from among sitting judges of any National court of judicature or from jurists of recognized competence and the Registrar is appointed by the Council of Ministers.
*To learn more about the East African Court of Justice please visit http://www.eacj.org
For further information please contact:
Richard Owora Othieno
Ag. Head of Department
Corporate Communications and Public Affairs
Phone: +256 718 358664 / +255 784 835021
Email: othieno@eachq.org
SOURCE
East African Community (EAC)
