Annual Regional Conference of Judges on Environmental Security in Eastern Africa
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BACKGROUND
The Institute for Security Studies (ISS), the
Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (EAPCCO) and the
government of Seychelles hosted the largest ever gath- ering of judges
to deliberate on environmental security in Eastern Africa. The forum brought together 35 judges, including the
chief justices of Burundi and Seychelles, the president of the East
African Court of Appeal, 15 judges from the Court of Appeal and 18
judges of the High Court from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Sudan, Ethiopia,
Burundi, Rwanda and Seychelles.The purpose of the conference was to:
- Increase awareness of the environmental security concerns in the region and their link to security and conflict
- Provide an opportunity to share experiences on environ- mental security-related issues among the judicial officers
- Address environmental security concerns in the region through
enhanced collaboration between the judicial officers and other
stakeholders
- Share major findings of EAPCCO/ISS studies conducted in the region on the nature and extent of environmental crimes
- Foster solidarity among regional judges with the aim of harmonising the implementation of policies and laws in the region
