Participants engaged in syndicate sessions aimed at identifying gaps and suggesting key areas for reform.
By TheInvestigator
The CLEEN Foundation has organized a two-day Policy Dialogue on Gender Accountability and Transparency in the Administration of Criminal Justice Regime, drawing key stakeholders to the Hogis Luxury Suites Conference Room in Calabar Municipality. The event was aimed to address critical issues surrounding the equitable implementation of criminal justice in Nigeria.
Supported by the MacArthur Foundation, it brought together a range of experts and panelists who shared best practices and formulated actionable strategies to enhance gender fairness, enforce accountability, and ensure transparency in the criminal justice system.
In his welcome remarks, Mr Gad Peter, Executive Director of CLEEN Foundation, emphasized the importance of justice, equality, and integrity in the criminal justice system. He noted that the administration of criminal justice is vital to upholding public trust and the rule of law, but that it must be continually assessed to ensure fairness and inclusivity for all members of society.
“The dialogue focuses on three fundamental pillars: gender, accountability, and transparency,” Mr Peter, represented by Mr Simeon Sunday stated, adding that gender equality in the justice system is not just a matter of fairness but essential for the credibility of the system. He highlighted how marginalized women often face significant challenges within the system and stressed that addressing these issues is a critical part of achieving justice.
Furthermore, he emphasized the role of accountability within the criminal justice system, advocating for holding law enforcement officers to the highest standards of conduct. “Without robust mechanisms for accountability, injustices go unchecked, eroding public confidence and undermining the rule of law,” he remarked.
In her remark, the State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Edema Irom lauded the CLEEN foundation for the initiative.
On the challenges, Mrs Edema reiterated “The challenge has always been implementation.” She maintained that it is time to take the campaigns to the grassroots and localize the materials.
The Commissioner concluded by calling on participants to contribute meaningfully to the discussions, expressing optimism that the outcomes would lead to a criminal justice system that is both effective and reflective of collective commitment to justice and equality.
Participants engaged in syndicate sessions aimed at identifying gaps and suggesting key areas for reform. These working sessions resulted in the collaborative drafting of policy options to enhance accountability and transparency across the criminal justice system.
The high point of the event was the introduction of participants to the HRMIS platform developed to provide citizens with opportunities to report any form of violations of their rights as human beings and citizens by the security agencies. It was also meant to provide citizens with a faster and cheaper means of reporting human rights violations that are in line with 21st-century best practices.