THE EAAP
OUR HISTORY
The EAAP was established in February 2010 in Kampala, Uganda to foster cooperation & collaboration amongst National Prosecuting Authorities of East Africa Community states for purposes of effective Administration of Justice among others.
The main impetus leading to its formation was the rapid growth in serious transnational crime in the region. Since its establishment, it has developed its Constitution, the Strategic Plan 2016-2021, initiated bi-lateral and regional linkages in various thematic areas such as: mutual legal assistance (MLA), wildlife crimes, counter trafficking in humans, terrorism, and international crimes.
The association has been an invaluable platform for holding capacity building training in the above thematic areas. The EAAP has consistently held annual general meetings since 2016 and has established a secretariat based in Nairobi at Kenya’s Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Building.
“The EAAP is a regional community of prosecutors committed to setting and raising standards of prosecution and professional conduct for prosecutors in Eastern Africa; by promoting the rule of law and improving regional legal cooperation to combat crime.”
EAAP OFFICERS AND ORGANS
The Executive Committee is the managing and administrative body of the Association and is the key decision making organ. It is composed of all the heads of national prosecution authorities of member states of the association. The Executive Committee elects those who have responsibilities for the following offices of President, Vice President, Secretary General, Treasurer and General Counsel. The current office holders are as follows:
President:
Currently, Director of Public Prosecutions Tanzania
VICE President:
Currently, Director of Public Prosecutions Uganda
GENERAL SECRETARY:
Currently, Director of Public Prosecutions Kenya
TREASURER:
Currently, Prosecutor General Rwanda
GENERAL COUNSEL:
Currently Director of Public Prosecutions South Sudan
The Steering Committee plays delegated functions as determined by the Executive Committee and is key in ensuring the execution of decisions of the Executive Committee. It is composed of prosecutors from each association member state appointed by their respective heads of national prosecution authorities.
The day-to-day work of the EAAP is carried out by the Secretariat, which is based in Nairobi, Kenya.
OUR VISION
An enhanced regional cooperation in preventing and combating Crime
OUR MISSION
To promote effective coordination and cooperation in preventing and combating crime in the region
OUR OBJECTIVES:
To promote and facilitate cooperation among the National Prosecuting Authorities of the Partner States to ensure effective measures and actions for prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of crime in the region.
To afford one another co-operation in Mutual Legal Assistance, exchange of convicted prisoners, extradition, and other forms of cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of crimes,
To advocate for harmonization of the policies and legislations of the Partner States for the purposes of effective prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of crimes in the region.
To cooperate in the matters of victim and witness care and protection.
To cooperate in matters of assets forfeiture and recovery of instrumentalities and proceeds of crime.
To stimulate public awareness about the dangers of crime and the role of the community in its prevention, detection, investigation, prosecution and sentencing.
To carry out joint training, research programmes, exchange of expertise in the field of prosecution within the Prosecution Authorities of the Partner States.
To network, associate and cooperate with other Regional and International Prosecuting Authorities and other relevant Bodies.
COOPERATION WITH OTHERS
The IAP has developed close links with many associations and organisations that have similar objectives. This includes the International Association of Prosecutors (IAP), the Africa Prosecutors Association (APA), the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (EAPCCO), the East African Magistrates and Judges Association (EAMJA), the East Africa Law Society (EALS), the East Africa Community (EAC), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), among others.