CAPACITY BUILDING WORKSHOP FOR LAWYERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL ALW AND THE ACCESS RIGHTS

Within the TAI process, some 54 lawyers, law students, and law lecturer participated in a training workshop on environmental law and the access rights, from July 17th to 18th 2009 at Bamenda, Cameroon. It was organized by the Foundation for Environment and Development (FEDEV) in collaboration with the Cameroon Bar Association, under the auspices of the ministry of Environment and Protection of Nature (MINEP).

Effective access to justice requires the participation of invaluable judicial actors like the lawyers. Capacity building of lawyers on environmental law and policy, strengthens the supply side of access to environmental justice and the implementation of environmental democracy.

The objectives of the workshop were inter alia to: - Share knowledge and skills in environmental law, in order to enhance the capacity of lawyers and improve the delivery of environmental legal services.
- Acquaint participants with the concepts and intricacies of environmental law in order to enhance environmental judicial activism. - Identify current challenges to the role of lawyers in the enforcement and development of environmental law in Cameroon and make recommendations for the way forward.

The workshop was launched by the Ministry of Environment and Protection of Nature (MINEP). For the two days discussions were focused on the following topics: - Introduction to TAI, TAI Cameroon process and the access rights - The legal framework for water resource management in Cameroon - Climate Change - Human rights and the Environment - Public interest Litigation in Cameroon - The role of the Cameroon Bar in the enforcement and development of environmental law - Environmental crimes - The role of the media in promoting environmental justice and expectations from lawyers - Fundamental Principles of Environmental Law - Competence and procedure for investigation of environmental crimes - Environmental Law reporting - Challenges to the role of lawyers in the enforcement of environmental justice in Cameroon - Case studies

Participants adopted proactive recommendations at the end of the workshop which included:

FOR THE LAWYERS - Must promote public awareness, sensitization and advocacy on environmental rights. - Shall contribute actively and effectively in the furtherance of environmental justice in Cameroon and the development of environmental law. - Shall expedite environmental litigations, public interest actions etc. - Promote legal research and publication on environmental issues. - Work for regular environmental law reporting to enhance judicial activism - Cameroon Bar Council should immediately form the environmental commission of the Bar, for sustainability - Cameroon Bar should take part in international environmental law negotiations. - There is need to regular capacity building for lawyers on environmental law.

FOR THE GOVERNMENT: - Legal instruments on environmental issues and the access rights should be made available to all judicial actors and other stakeholders. - set up an environmental ombudsman (watchdog) to monitor and ensure the enforcement of environmental laws and policies in Cameroon - Ease access to environmental justice through waivers of filing fees and other compulsory payments such as 5% court deposits in civil matters.

GENERAL - Environmental law should be taught in all law faculties from the undergraduate levels. - There is urgent need to organize this workshop in the ten regions of Cameroon so as to ensure the required impact. - A multi stakeholder workshop on the access rights should be organized at similar levels. - That FEDEV and the TAI partners should continue with the TAI activities IN Cameroon, which is indispensable for democratic governance.

Materials that were distributed included: - Basic environmental laws, Compiled study materials, TAI materials, posters on environmental rights etc.