Judges of the Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS, have converged in Niger State, Nigeria, for the Court’s 2025 Judges’ Retreat.
The week-long retreat, which opened on Monday, November 3, has as its theme, “Jurisprudence of the Court: Applicability of Evolving International Human Rights Principles.” It is scheduled to conclude on Friday, November 7, 2025.
According to a statement from the Court, the annual retreat brings together judges and senior professional staff to review draft policies, assess institutional performance, and reflect on the Court’s growing body of human rights jurisprudence.
A major item on the agenda is the consideration and possible adoption of a new five-year strategic plan for the Court.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the President of the Court, Hon. Justice Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves, described the retreat as a moment of “pause, reflection, and renewal.”
“Each year, we sit in judgment of others; today, we reflect upon ourselves—our practices, our principles, and our plans for the future,” Justice Gonçalves said.
He noted that beyond its traditional purpose, the retreat reaffirms the Court’s collective commitment to justice, integrity, and institutional excellence.
A key highlight of this year’s gathering is the presentation and validation of the Court’s Draft Strategic Plan, 2026–2030, a comprehensive framework designed to guide operations over the next five years.
The plan sets out a roadmap for strengthening judicial efficiency, embracing digital transformation, promoting professional development, and deepening stakeholder engagement, while ensuring that the Court remains people-centred and accessible.
“By validating this plan, we reaffirm our ownership of the Court’s future. We move from reacting to change, to leading transformation; from short-term fixes to long-term vision; from working in isolation, to working in harmony toward a shared purpose. As guardians of the law, we must be ready to adapt, to innovate, and to uphold the highest standards of judicial conduct,” he said.
Other key issues to be discussed during the retreat include the Court’s human rights jurisprudence, internship policy, best judicial practices, record management and archives policy, and guidelines for the award of compensation.
