ELAW in Africa

(Photo: Mark Boulton, CEC)

Working to protect Africa’s environment through law presents tremendous challenges. Fortunately, a growing corps of grassroots environmental defenders is stepping up to meet these challenges. E-LAW U.S. is helping pioneering African public interest attorneys gain the skills and tools they need to shape a sustainable future for Africa.

E-LAW U.S. Staff Attorney Jennifer Gleason recently returned from Africa. The following spotlight on Africa presents excerpts from Jen’s report, a profile of a new E-LAW advocate in Swaziland, examples of recent victories, and ongoing work.

Public interest lawyers in Liberia, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Rwanda face tremendous hurdles as they work to protect the environment, public health, and human rights. Jennifer Gleason, E-LAW U.S. Staff Attorney, traveled to these countries in April to work with E-LAW’s current partners and reach out to new pioneers of environmental justice.

These grassroots attorneys are challenging short-sighted plans to exploit Africa’s natural resources, giving voice to disadvantaged communities seeking to protect the natural environment for future generations, and helping families live in a healthy environment.

Jen traveled in Africa with Vincent Shauri, Executive Director of the Lawyers` Environmental Action Team (LEAT) in Tanzania, and Miguel Peirano, E-LAW U.S. Technology Circuit Rider. E-LAW U.S. has worked with LEAT for many years to protect biodiversity and challenge urban pollution in Africa. Miguel Peirano has helped E-LAW advocates around the world use information technologies to protect the environment.

In Africa, E-LAW U.S. is currently working with partners in Cameroon, Chad, Congo (Brazzaville), Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Trip Report

Jennifer Gleason

Africa

I have traveled a lot in sub-Saharan Africa, but I have never seen challenges like those faced by advocates in Nigeria, Liberia, Ethiopia, and Rwanda. This trip gave me even greater respect for grassroots attorneys in Africa.

In Liberia, our partners at Green Advocates are working to restore the rule of law in a country just beginning to recover from civil war.

Jennifer Gleason, Staff Attorney, E-LAW U.S.

In Nigeria, the Community Defense Law Foundation is working to hold multinational oil companies accountable amid an atmosphere of extreme corruption.

In Ethiopia, advocates are looking for ways to use law to address recurring famine and crippling poverty.

I arrived in Rwanda as the country was commemorating the tenth anniversary of the genocide and learned that the country was left without any lawyers. Virtually all Rwandan lawyers were either killed or fled the country. Rwanda is rebuilding itself and young lawyers will play an important role in creating a new legal regime.