By Adoba Echono, Abuja
Last updated October 26, 2023
The ECOWAS Court of Justice and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have forged a collaborative alliance to address the pressing issues of statelessness and population displacement prevalent in the region.
This significant commitment was made during a meeting between Honourable Justice Gbéri-bè Ouattara, Vice President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, and Mr. Abdouraouf Gnon-Konde, the Regional Director of UNHCR. The meeting took place in Abuja, Nigeria.
Expressing his gratitude for the productive partnership, Mr. Gnon-Konde, who serves as the Director of the UNHCR Regional Office for West and Central Africa in Dakar, Senegal, noted that this alliance has facilitated numerous joint initiatives and provided a platform for the exchange of expert opinions.
In response, Justice Ouattara acknowledged the positive impact of this partnership on the promotion and protection of human rights in the ECOWAS region, while expressing the Court’s gratitude to Mr. Gnon-Konde.
Justice Ouattara stressed, “The absence of justice and the violation of human rights are the main causes of humanitarian disasters”.
During the meeting, both parties also deliberated on strategic areas for collaboration with a focus on addressing human rights issues, particularly the rights of refugees and internally displaced persons. They underscored the imperative to strengthen their existing partnership in order to tackle the adverse consequences of statelessness and population displacement in the region.
In attendance were Mr. Hervé Kuate, the UNHCR Senior Adviser responsible for liaison with ECOWAS and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), and Ms. Joan Ogu, Assistant Government Liaison Officer.
Representatives from the Protocol, Language Services, and Communication Divisions of the Court were also present, including Dr. Yaouza Ouro-Sama, the Chief Registrar of the ECOWAS Court, and Mr. Fernand Kouassi, the Executive Assistant to the Vice President.
This collaborative effort between the ECOWAS Court of Justice and UNHCR signifies a powerful step towards safeguarding the rights and well-being of refugees and internally displaced persons in the ECOWAS region. By combining their expertise and resources, the two organizations are poised to make a meaningful impact and alleviate the suffering of those affected by statelessness and population displacement.
