Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Gambian Judiciary Introduces Children's Court Rule 2010


Banjul, The Gambia (TNBES) A workshop on the introduction to the Children's Court Rule 2010 and the Amended Industrial Tribunal Rules 2010 was held at the Kairaba Beach Hotel on Wednesday 27th January, 2010.

The programme brought together judicial officials and members of the Gambia Bar Association to jointly review the recently drafted Children's Court Rules 2010 and the Amended Industrial Tribunal Rule 2010.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Chief Justice of The Gambia, Emmanuel Agim said noted that being a lawyer is not only running between court houses, but to make sure that the laws are placed at the frontline which shall enhance a fair justice delivery system. He urged legal practitioners to use the law in the services of the community, which he said should be first on the frontline, adding that the rule of law should be understood by the lawyers.

Justice Agim hailed the President of the Gambia Bar Association, Mrs. Amie Bensouda for being the first lady to comply with the High Court Rules and commended the Bar Association for their good work.

In her introductory remarks, Justice Mama Fatima Singhateh said the preparation of these rules was made possible with the financial support received from the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP).

According to her, UNDP agreed in August 2009 to support the judiciary through the UNDP-Support to the judiciary of The Gambia Project which, she said aims at ensuring an efficient
and effective administration of justice in The Gambia.

She pointed out that there are a number of activities planned for this project, some of which have been implemented, including the support of Saturday Court Sittings, the Development
of the Judiciary Website, and the Drafting of the Rules of the Children's Court
and Industrial Tribunals etc.

She said that a lot more activities have been put in place for the year 2010, all geared towards enhancing the administration of justice in The Gambia.

Justice Fatima recalled that the Children's Act, which was enacted in 2005, established the Children's Court and since then no rules were put in place to guide the proceedings of the court. She added
that with the enactment of the Labour Act 2007, there was the need to update
the Industrial Tribunal Rules. VOL:2 ISSN:60

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