President Paul Kagame on Monday, September 9 said that enacting environmental laws and policies is essential for a sustainable future, and that with independent and experienced judges a lot can be done to protect the environment and provide justice where it is due.
The President made the remarks during the official opening of the Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association (CMJA) conference in the capital Kigali.
Running the theme, ‘Environmental Justice’, the five-day conference has drawn judicial professionals from 44 jurisdictions of the Commonwealth. The forum aims to advance the administration of the law by promoting judicial independence, enhancing education in the law, and improving justice within the Commonwealth.
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Experts emphasise that it is timely considering the three intertwined environmental crises — climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution — that the world is currently grappling with.
According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), environmental justice is conceptualised as the goal of promoting justice and accountability in environmental matters, focusing on the respect, protection and fulfilment of environmental rights, and the promotion of the environmental rule of law.
Kagame said that environmental justice is at the top priority for the Commonwealth as the threat of climate change was at the top of the agenda of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting hosted in Kigali in 2022.
"Today, global greenhouse gas emissions disproportionately impact Africa and small island developing states, but no country can afford to be complacent. All over the world, temperatures are rising at an unprecedented rate, the quality of air we breathe is constantly declining, putting us all at risk,” he said.
He noted that enacting environmental laws and policies is essential for a cleaner and sustainable future. "Even more important is having a strong and independent judiciary that enforces the law and puts the needs and interest of our people first.”
After the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, Rwanda embarked on a journey to reform the justice system, as a deliberate choice driven by the conviction that the rule of law is a key building block for peace, security, and development, he added.
The Head of State noted that one of the most consequential laws the country passed is the ban on plastic bags, highlighting that the effect has been tremendous.
"Beyond the cleanliness of our streets, homes, this decision reinforced the importance of managing our resources without too much dependence from outside.”
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"Over the years, we have also taken seriously the conservation of national parks. All over the world these parks are home to endangered species who unfortunately continue to be target of criminal networks. For local communities, this rich biodiversity is a primary source of livelihood. Too often, wildlife crimes also involve a wide spectrum of cross border criminal activities which put our national security at risk.”
Addressing case backlogs
Kagame urged the participants to address the growing challenge of judicial corruption and case backlogs, noting that the legitimacy of any justice system rests in the trust that citizens have in it.
"That is the basis of the ability of the courts to ensure respect for due process, and respond swiftly and impartially to any dispute. Without this foundation, we cannot make a fairer and more peaceful world.”
Chief Justice Faustin Ntezilyayo said that current environmental challenges are profound, spanning climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and the unsustainable use of natural resources.
"As judicial officers, we bear a unique responsibility to uphold and advance the principles of justice in these areas.”
The conference, he added, "aims to deepen our collective understanding of judicial independence, which remains the bedrock of our work, and to explore how different jurisdictions within the Commonwealth can address our common challenges.”
The conference features discussions on various topics beyond environmental justice, including the use of case management systems to expedite justice, techniques to combat case backlogs, and strategies to fight corruption.