Shari'a Implementation in Nigeria - Peace Palace Library

WELCOME ADDRESS
By Joy Ngozi Ezeilo (Executive Director, WACOL)
“Gender does influence a woman’s right to access the justice system
from making a decision to take action, having the means to take such action
(money issue), being able to continue the action, and getting justice at the
end of the day. It is not an easy decision for women to make, whether to
litigate or not’’.
Distinguished guests, participants, scholars, and activists I profoundly
welcome you on behalf of the coordinating organizations to this conference
on “ Women’s Rights and Access to Justice Under Shari’a in Northern
Nigeria”. This conference, which is a follow up to the earlier strategic
conference on Islamic Legal System and Women’s Rights held in October
2002 seeks to assess and evaluate the implementation of the Shari’a penal
law and justice system in Northern Nigeria, and its impact on women’s human
rights with the aim of determining issues, challenges, and prospects in the
protection of women’s right and access to justice under the Shari’a.
The conference is borne out of a dire need to ensure that Women’s
Human Rights are equally guaranteed and respected under the emerging
Shari’a penal system. You would recall that since the inception of our
democracy and the fourth republic, at least 12 states of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria have adopted and started the implementation of the Shari’a Penal
Justice System. While disparate interest groups have argued for and against
such introduction of Shari’a penal justice system, we would rather not concern
ourselves with such discussions but move to engage the justice system as it is
now in operation and examine relevant and pertinent issues on Access to
Justice.
Access to Justice is essential for a legitimate justice system. A democratic
state is hinged on rule of law and on maxims such as:
• Equal access to justice for all
• To no one we deny justice (justitia nemini negenda est)
• Everyone is equal before the law
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