LASPNET Launches Access to Justice Manifesto ahead of 2016 Elections
- 05 November 2015 -
- Written by Laspnet
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In a bid to propel issues of access to justice onto the agendas for 2016 electoral candidates, LASPNET launched an “Access to Justice Manifesto” at a conference held on 22nd October 2015 at the Kampala Serena Hotel. It preceded the 6th Annual General Meeting for the Network.
The manifesto which was officially launched and signed off by the Honourable Justice Remmy Kasule of the Constitutional Court and Chairperson of the Uganda Law Council called upon all political aspirants to prioritise matters of access to justice in their manifestos. His Lordship urged legal aid service providers to empower the vulnerable so that they are able to speak out if their rights are being violated. “If we turn the other eye, we are not assisting ordinary citizens to fight for their rights”, he said.
“We want to hold those who will be successful in the upcoming elections accountable for the rule of law and good governance hence the manifesto”, said Mr. Samuel Nsubuga the LASPNET Board Chairperson.
“The challenges we face in access to justice are not insurmountable, working together can eliminate some of the barriers”, said Ms.Martha Nanjobe from the Democratic Governance Facility, in her remarks on behalf of development partners. She noted that tensions were rising and would continue to do so as the election season progressed which is why the manifesto was timely to ensure that relevant stakeholders continue to prevent injustice and defend the rights of the marginalized.
Ms.Sylvia Namubiru Mukasa, the LASPNET Executive Director explained that electoral candidates had been focussing on education, health and infrastructure and ignoring access to justice, which is why hindrances to effective legal aid service delivery still persist.
The Conference which was held under the theme, “Positioning LASPNET as a platform to drive the Rule of Law Agenda for Development”, was attended by a multiplicity of stakeholders from the Justice Law & Order Sector, academia, legal aid service providers, civil society, development partners and the media.
