Region sets up site to track, fight wildlife crimes (East Africa)
Region sets up site to track, fight wildlife crimes (East Africa)
Kennedy Senelwa, The East African
January 8, 2021
See link
https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/east-africa/region-sets-up-site-to-track-fight-wildlife-crimes-3250952
for photo.
East African countries have set up a microsite to track wildlife
trafficking and affiliated crimes in the region and will also collaborate
in supporting the enforcement and prosecution of wildlife crimes.
The microsite set up by the East Africa Association of Prosecutors (EAAP)
will promote co-operation on transnational wildlife crimes, data sharing,
bilateral agreements, mutual legal assistance, harmonisation of laws,
procedures and penalties.
The platform was developed with support from the United States Agency for
International Development funded project Conserving Natural Capital and
Enhancing Collaborative Management of Transboundary Resources in East
Africa (Connect). It was created in response to the objectives established
under the East Africa Community regional strategy to combat poaching,
illegal trade and trafficking of wildlife and wildlife products.
EAAP president and director of Tanzania National Prosecution Services
Biswalo Mganga, speaking at the recent virtual launch of the microsite,
said prosecutors must ensure the coronavirus pandemic does not impede joint
efforts to fight wildlife crimes.
The virtual launch was attended by Uganda’s Director of Public Prosecution
Justice Jane Abodo, Kenya’s Secretary Public Prosecution Dorcas Oduor and
Rwanda’s deputy Prosecutor-General Angelique Habyarimana.
Other representatives were Burundi’s deputy Prosecutor-General Isaac
Kubwayo with head of EAAP Secretariat and acting Deputy Director of Public
Prosecutions in Kenya Rhoda Ogoma.
“This website is a great milestone and a tangible output achieved in the
process of the implementation of the EAC regional strategy,” said EAC’s
Principal Tourism Officer Simon Kiarie.
“Facilitating regular communication between prosecutors will help to
disrupt transnational smuggling networks while ensuring smooth and timely
communication between nations when dealing with transnational wildlife
smuggling networks,” said Julie Thomson, Traffic’s East Africa programme
office director.