Swakopmund: Members of the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs are undergoing capacity-building training in Swakopmund to strengthen their ability to review, analyse, and engage with international treaties, conventions, and protocols.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the week-long training, which began on Monday, is being attended by about 35 parliamentarians, academics, as well as civil society and development partners. The training aims to deepen understanding of treaty processes, from negotiation and ratification to domestication, interpretation, and implementation. It is also intended to enhance Parliament's oversight role in ensuring treaties align with the Namibian Constitution and national interests.
Committee Chairperson Modestus Amutse, in his opening remarks, stated that the new mandate to review international treaties is a significant expansion of the committee's responsibilities. Amutse highlighted the importance of the training, noting that it strengthens Parliament's role in ensuring that Namibia engages with the international community from an informed and deliberate standpoint.
The sessions feature expert presentations, group discussions, case studies, and simulation exercises on treaty review. Participants are expected to leave with a clearer understanding of international treaty frameworks, improved analytical skills, and stronger networks for collaboration on treaty-related matters.
Academic and researcher Dr. Tapiwa Warikandwa, who is facilitating the workshop, underscored the constitutional dimensions of treaty review. He explained Namibia's hybrid approach between monism, where international law automatically forms part of domestic law under Article 144 of the Constitution, and dualism, which requires domestication before treaties take effect locally. Warikandwa emphasized the constitutional considerations necessary before ratification, acknowledging Parliament's central role in examining the implications of any treaty before it becomes part of Namibia's legal system.
On the first day, participants also discussed sovereignty, the balance between domestic law and international obligations, and lessons from global and regional best practices. Institutions represented include the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of International Relations, Cooperation and Trade, Office of the Attorney-General, Law Reform and Development Commission, University of Namibia's Faculty of Law, civil society bodies such as NamRights and the Legal Assistance Centre, and international organizations such as the United Nations.