Source: 

http://tinyurl.com/yajkcy3

GREENING THE JUDICIARY

In collaboration with Ministry of Environment and Protection of nature (MINEP), FEDEV organized a two days training workshop on environmental Law and the access rights for judges and Magistrates. The event took place from the 30th to 31st of October 2009. About 40 Judges and Magistrates from different regions of the country were trained along with some other relevant legal stakeholders. These Judges and magistrates constitute those of the bench and prosecutors. The workshop was launched by the Ministry of Environment and Protection of Nature (MINEP). The object was to strengthen capacity of Judges, Magistrates and other relevant legal stakeholders to ensure implementation of the access rights and advancement of environmental democracy in Cameroon. For the two days, presentations and discussions were focused on certain key topics including: Introduction to TAI, TAI Cameroon process and the access rights, Environment and Human rights: Concepts, implementation and challenges, Climate Change, Public Interest Environmental Litigation and the role of judicial actors in Cameroon, Forest Law Enforcement and Governance in Cameroon: implementation and expectations from the courts, Water Pollution in Cameroon, the effects and need for law enforcement, Nuclear Law and the challenges of sustainable development, Peculiarities of Environmental Litigation, Enforcing environmental law and the role of the Public prosecution in Cameroon, Fundamental Principles of Environmental La, Women & Environment: The role of the Judiciary and the Challenges to judicial enforcement of environmental lParticipants acknowledge the fact that limited awareness of environmental laws, the access rights and other related issues by members of the judiciary greatly hinders implementation, enforcement, development of the law and sustainable development. The

Workshop recommendations included: Extensive and holistic capacity building programs on environmental law and access rights. Environmental law reporting, Establishment of Environmental Law Review Commission. Inclusion of environmental law in the training school for magistrates and law faculties. Public interest environmental litigation and rigorous prosecution of environmental crimes. Provision of Legal Aid to victims of environmental wrongs. Judiciary and Government institutions should execute their duties effectively in promoting sustainable development. Creation of environmental ombudsman. Provision of public (FEICOM) funding to Municipal authorities for Hygiene and Sanitation. Wide interpretation of the polluter pays principle and expansion of standing. Dissemination of national and international environmental laws. Environmental Judicial activism and erudite judgments. FEDEV, WRI and other partners should intensify their invaluable efforts in promoting environmental democracy. Environmental laws, articles, compendium of study materials, court judgements and TAI posters were distributed to participants in Cameroon