Information by Country

INTRODUCTION

The continent of Africa is the world's second largest continent after Asia. It has 54 independent countries - 48 mainland and 6 island states - with an estimated total population of 922 million (as of 2005) and is projected to reach one billion before 2010. Its vast mineral resources provide the world with much needed energy. Africa is also ironically the most deprived and poverty stricken with sickness and diseases eating away at its population every day. 34 out of 53 African countries are counted among the world's "Least Developed Countries".

In 1999 a group of Lawyers from Africa met in the United States and started a network which at the time was called African Christian Lawyers Network (ACLN). By 2005 the network had grown with contacts in over 35 countries in Africa. In the same year at a conference in Johannesburg, South Africa ACLN changed its name to Advocates Africa electing its first Board and adopting a constitution.

Advocates Africa has grown to a 43 country strong network of Christian lawyers, advocates, judicial officers and law students organised into national associations.

With the financial assistance from Advocates International, members of Advocates Africa have positively and effectively influenced the destiny of the nations of Africa through constructive programs that mobilise and empower civil society. They have engaged with people at grass-roots level to provide legal education and training on issues of democracy, human rights, good governance, rule of law etc., while at the same time participating in developing and influencing political and legal systems in both the public and private sectors.

OBJECTIVES OF ADVOCATES AFRICA

The main objective of Advocates Africa is to engage African Christian lawyers, judges and law students to serve and assist governments and civil society groups with different aspects of constitutional development and democratic processes in their nations and regions. Inform, train and equip lawyers so that they can actively work for a more equitable and just society in their respective nations by “doing justice with compassion”, as they practice law.

CONFERENCES

The member Countries of Advocates Africa meet in their respective countries each year, and gather alternately every two years at continental conferences. The continental meeting of Advocates Africa is hosted on a rotational basis in the four regions of the continent. The bi-annual conference of Advocates Africa is an essential meeting at which the national organisations gather to review and plan for the development of the continental network in order to strengthen their capacity to serve the people of Africa more effectively.

MEMBERS

Members of the network are Christians who consider their professions to be a calling through which they are to serve humanity. The ethic and values they endeavour to apply are synonymous with a Biblical standard of law and justice and are committed to serve individuals and their nations in line with the vision to build long-term sustainable democracies that will ensure civil liberties for all Africans.

AREAS OF OPERATIONS

The ongoing development of Advocates Africa seeks to serve Africa and make significant contributions to the transformation of nations in Africa in the following areas:

Legal Aid for the Poor and disenfranchised

On numerous occasions it has been effectively demonstrated that through the network it is possible to notify members of the plight and/or distress of individuals in need of legal aid, and raise help for them by contacting members of the network in the relevant country.  This is particularly so in “Third World” countries where systems are not adequately developed to readily serve the people with efficient judiciaries and courts, and thus give them access to justice.

Further development of the continental network with a view to providing legal aid for the poor and disenfranchised is therefore a primary goal of the Advocates Africa.

Constitutional Development and Democratisation

Many African nations are currently working to build their nations into sustainable democracies. Strong civil society organisations are vital to this process in order to establish accountability and transparency that will ensure national stability. Advocate Africa can be used to equip civil society groups more adequately to play a part in the democratic processes in their countries.  Members of the network are often used to monitor elections and evaluate other processes that are vital to the stability and development of nations.  In Africa this contribution is important as the cultural and socio-economic conditions of most citizens are such that they are particularly vulnerable to the exploitation of unscrupulous politicians and governments. Advocate Africa is a strong network of qualified legal professionals who are committed to serve and strengthen their nations by equipping people to engage effectively in democratic processes that significantly contributes to stabilising African nations.

Combating Corruption

The notorious state of the public administrations in African countries demands that Africa’s civilian population gets involved in fighting bribery and corruption. Advocate Africa provides a civil society forum that can support and act on behalf of ‘whistleblowers’ that report illegal activities, which are otherwise covered up by corrupt officials.

Defence of Human Rights

Advocate Africa is also positioned to make a very important contribution to monitoring and ensuring that human rights abuses are exposed and brought to book. In particular the violation of citizens’ right to life; religious freedom; freedom of expression; the right to legal representation; freedom of movement, residence and security; freedom of association; political rights, etc.. These are some of the reasons that move individual members of the national organisations of Advocates Africa to support and participate in the initiatives to serve the people and nations of Africa in and through the legal profession.

In 2005 Advocates Africa initiated a program called “Project Nehemiah”.  This project is aimed at rebuilding the walls of justice in Africa.  Each of our national groups will Plan and execute a project aimed at fostering the cause of justice within 52 days. Our various chapters have impacted nations like Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Burundi, Ghana, Niger, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, just to mention a few and with a network of Lawyers and Judges in over 40 countries in Africa we continue to aim at impacting our communities and our continent by doing justice with compassion.

Africa faces many challenges in governance, corruption, civil war, mismanagement of natural resources, poverty, Human Rights abuses, HIV/ AIDS just to mention a few. 

To bring Christian lawyers together to fight the ills of our continent is a big challenge. Advanced Communications tools are yet to reach the continent where internet and phones are privileges of the rich.  Travel is very expensive on the continent and access into other countries is nearly impossible and very risky. 

We continue to make headway reaching out to Christian Lawyers on the continent. We have recently started engaging at the level of the African Union where we can monitor and influence policy for a better Africa.