The public conference which is part of a two week study session is meant for Lawyers, magistrates and human rights advocates most of them drown from the Economic Community of West Africa states sub region (ECOWAS) , also future areas like international criminal law, the need establishment of the African court of Justice and the extradition of Hissene Habre former Chadian leader.

On November 24, 2010 a meeting of international donors was held in Dakr, Senegal Dakar, to finance the prosecution of Hissène Habré a many huamn rights activists said is a potential turning point in the long campaign to bring the former Chadian dictator to justice.

The meeting matched the US$ 11.7 million (€8.59 million) budget presented by the African Union and the European Union. But an attempt to extradite him by the senegalse authorities failed.

Speaking to Africanews in an exclusive interview, Delpine Leneutre, Programme Officer for international institute of Human rights said, it is her institution’s desire to externalize their study sessions in line with the dream of the institution’s founder whom she said was one of the writers of the Universal Declaration of human rights.

Specific targets

Mrs Leneutre further revealed that, they want to look at international law with a focus on the universality of international criminal law, its realization, an African criminal jurisdiction and an African solution in the case of Hussein Habrie.

She stressed that, ‘The evolution of international criminal law depends on the criminal jurisdiction and the political will to end the world of impunity behind which war criminal such as Heussein Habre hide themselves.’’

According to her, applicants from Africa had find it difficult to attend their study sessions due to administrative or financial constraints, adding they want to help lawyers, magistrates to form themselves and specialize on international human rights law.

Ivory Coast

Commenting on the recent conflict in Ivory Coast, characterized by serious human rights violations, the human rights institute’s programme officer when on to say that, one of the invited participants is from Ivory Coast, saying he was invited to enable him sensitize the Ivorian citizens and politicians on international Human rights law.

Warner Nowak , director for Fredrich Naumann foundation for Liberty West Africa, said the objectives of the training seminar is to deepen participants knowledge on procedures of international human rights law in relation to international treaties, national legislations in relation to human rights issues.

Mr Nowak cited that, the ill treatment of minorities such homosexuals, Female Genital Mutilation and detention of crime suspects without trial is a violation of human rights.

According him, they are trying to raise human rights awareness everywhere, adding that their efforts are most successful in open societies where civil society is strong enough to press for the realization of those human rights.

‘In dictatorship, it is a difficult situation but we will not let loose, this is an ongoing issue and it is my firm belief they will face justice one day, we have seen the developments in the Arab countries why shouldn’t it be like that somewhere, ‘he empasized.

On his part, Sabastien Touze, Professor of international law and secretary general of the international Institute of Human Rights in strasburg, France stressed the significance of the Human rights education in Africa. Trouze explained the importance of sensitizing lawyers and law enforcement agents adding it will enable them to effectively execute their duties.