About Us
- Justice and the Judiciary
- EITD Research
- The RJJR Programme
- Our Goal
- Objectives
- Strategy
- Action Plan
- Funding
- Job Opportunities
- Your Contributions Make a Difference
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Much of the crisis in Cameroon society and around the world has to do with whether or how justice is sought and administered or not, in accordance with law and, sometimes, illegally. The Constitution declares the resolve of the people of Cameroon to harness their natural resources in order to ensure the wellbeing of every citizen without discrimination, and proclaims their right to development and determination to devote all their efforts to that end. The state is required to guarantee all citizens the rights and freedoms set forth in the Preamble of the Constitution.
Even as Cameroon laws are evolving and far from being perfect, compliance with them also entails fairness and impartiality, balance and comprehensiveness. Efforts to live up to these standards are ongoing, but with contents, paces and scales that scarcely match the seriousness and urgency of challenges in the economy and society. Cameroon is lagging on its promise to achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that were agreed at the United Nations (UN) Millennium Summit in 2000, and failing to live up to the mandate of its Constitution.
The Constitution provides for a unitary state with three powers (the executive, legislative and judicial powers) to assist society to achieve its mandated objectives. Judicial power is expected to be independent of the executive and legislative powers, and magistrates of the bench are required to discharge their duties following the law and their conscience. But the system of justice is failing the people of Cameroon, and the world, and may continue doing so if it is not robustly engaged and held to account. "The role of the judiciary is to secure justice effectively, swiftly and at little cost, transparently. What the judiciary can achieve, however, depends on existing law and public trust" (EITD Research Public Policy Briefings, October 2008).
Fairness and impartiality in decision making, implementation and evaluation are goals of good government in which the role of the judiciary is vital. The laws, on which justice is based, have been evolving and continue to do so in Cameroon. Prior to colonialism, law in Cameroon was mostly customary. Cameroon's many (about 230) different linguistic or cultural, ethnic or tribal groups had different law (not often written) reflecting their different linguistic or cultural values. Colonialism introduced common (English/British), civil (French) and statute law traditions. All these systems of law are in operation and developing in Cameroon, thanks also to the wisdom, or lack thereof, of judges of all sorts sitting in various courts of the land. These include the Supreme Court, other Courts of Appeal, and Tribunals including Courts of First Instances and Customary Courts, in towns and villages, communities or quarters, all over the national territory.
The developments have often jeopardized or failed to cultivate public trust in law. Many have been left to rely only on their own often unchallenged assessments of natural justice and tend to vent their anger wastefully on streets, property and other people. This Revival of Justice and Judiciary Reform (RJJR) Programme is an EITD Research response to these challenges, following the institution's Strategic Plan for 2009-16.
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Research for Enterprise, Industries, Technology and Development (EITD Research) is a private non-profit making non-governmental research and policy education institution with head quarters in Kumba, Cameroon, working on development issues related to technology, enterprise and industries since its founding in 1992.
EITD Research seeks solutions to pressing development concerns and assist society to take with responsibility opportunities offered by science in the use of technology for development via enterprise and industries. In addition to providing field services and technical support in resources management, EITD Research develops and circulates information on a range of issues, advocating strategies and making policy recommendations.
Activities of the institution are classified under seven broad headings: (1) Development and Economic Policy, (2) Enterprise and Industry, (3) Engineering Science and Technology, (4) Primary Health Care, (5) Education, (6) Environment and Production, and (7) Field Services and Technical Support. More ...
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As indicated in the section on Justice and the Judiciary above, this RJJR (Revival of Justice and Judiciary Reform) Programme is a response of EITD Research, following its Strategic Plan for 2009-16, to major challenges facing the justice system administered in the name of the people of Cameroon. The Programme builds on investments in research and policy education endeavors of EITD Research since its founding in 1992.
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The goal of the RJJR Programme is to expedite achievement of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with the view to helping Cameroon live up to the mandate of its Constitution, by using various political processes and public interest litigation to robustly engage the justice system and hold it to account continually.
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The RJJR objectives include:
1) Raising public awareness on the importance of justice or fairness and impartiality in decision making, implementation and evaluation as goals of good government and the role, or lack thereof, of the judiciary in the processes;
2) Building judiciary personnel and other public policy stakeholder capacity on:
a) Perspectives of competing interests inherent in judicial proceedings and the obligation to respond to them with integrity in fair, balanced and law based methods;
b) Substantive and procedural issues in available law and legal reform proposals;
c) Legal experience journaling, guidance or direction development, and publication;
d) Legal research methods and their application;
e) Developing judiciary services care for, and outreach to, end users;
f) Writing, speaking, listening, managing communications, and improving performance;
3) Orchestrating the finding, implementation and evaluation of constructive ways of increasing access to services of the judiciary;
4) Clarifying rules that apply, verifying adherence to them or lack thereof, with particular emphasis on substantive and procedural treatment of, and impacts on, individuals and groups of various categories, and making fairness and balance assessments;
5) Scrutinizing judicial appointments, performance assessments, rewards and sanctions, and the processes involved for insights on the integrity, learning and independence of judges and the judiciary; and,
6) Formulating and advocating reforms that eliminate delay, inconsistencies, complacency and repugnant rules, as well as promote best practices and innovation, in the justice system.
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The RJJR Programme strategy is that of: engaging key decision makers in policy making, implementation and evaluation processes; encouraging and helping them to provide public explanations or justifications of the decisions they make; analyzing the legality of, and fairness and balance in, the decisions as well as their proffered justifications or lack thereof; seeking clarifications where necessary; and, generating debate on the legal framework of justice and the role of the judiciary in efforts to guarantee all citizens the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Preamble of the Constitution without delay.
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Swift establishment and expansion of operations, setting specific targets, activity schedules, delivery mechanisms and indicators, following continuous consultations with other EITD Research interventions and stakeholders, managing and delivering on expectations, publishing plan details and achievements or failures for each justice administration region of Cameroon.
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Seed funding for the RJJR Programme is from EITD Research reserves. Other funding is expected from various activity end user contributions, sponsorships and receipts from marketing/sales opportunities, grants and donations. If you would like to donate or discuss your contribution to the EITD Research RJJR Programme, click here to contact us now.
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The RJJR Programme provides excellent work opportunities, on negotiable terms, for full-or-part-time employment, internships or fellowships and volunteering. Click here, for an overview on working at EITD Research.
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Your Contributions make a Difference
If you would like to donate or discuss your contribution to the EITD Research RJJR Programme, click here to contact us now.