The ECOWAS Court of Justice has convened an international conference in Dakar, Senegal, to examine judgment enforcement, human rights protection, artificial intelligence, and other issues shaping the future of regional justice in West Africa.
The conference, scheduled for 21 to 26 September 2026, is themed “ECOWAS Court of Justice at the Crossroads: Justice, Innovation, Human Rights Protection, and the Future of Regional Integration in West Africa.”
According to the Court, the meeting will bring together senior judicial and government officials from ECOWAS Member States, heads of national courts and ECOWAS institutions, legal practitioners, academics, civil society organisations, development partners and members of the media.
A major focus will be the long-standing challenge of compliance with and enforcement of decisions of the ECOWAS Court.
Seven thematic sessions are expected to examine human-rights jurisprudence, enforcement and compliance with judgments, artificial intelligence, data protection, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution, the proposed appellate chamber, environmental justice, refugee protection and forced displacement.
The conference will also examine how digital innovation can be introduced into regional justice systems without weakening human rights protections.
The Court said the meeting is expected to produce an outcome document containing actionable recommendations and strategic priorities for strengthening both the institution and the wider process of regional integration.
The discussion on enforcement is particularly significant because the effectiveness of a regional court depends not merely on its ability to pronounce judgments but also on whether member states comply with those decisions.
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