Remarks

Remarks by Matt Harrington, Deputy Chief of Mission
Launch of Law Society Pamphlet, “Arrest and Bail After Hours”
September 17, 2008

Good afternoon.  It is a great pleasure to be here.  I arrived in Namibia only a few weeks ago and this is my first opportunity to meet most of you.  Ambassador Mathieu wanted to join you today but she is visiting rural communities in northern Namibia – learning about their challenges as well as visiting some projects that the people of the United States have funded.  She asked me to convey her best wishes.  

I am delighted to be able to participate in the official release of the “Arrest and Bail After Hours” pamphlet.   It is an important document developed through the collaboration of the Law Society, the Legal Assistance Center, and the Office of the Prosecutor General – and the U.S. Embassy was pleased to be able to support it through our Democracy and Human Rights Fund. 

While the pamphlet is small, its objective -- informing Namibians about their rights under the constitution and the Criminal Procedures Act -- is ambitious and its potential impact significant.  Protecting the rights of all citizens – even those who break the law – is fundamental to a free and open society.  As we all know, well-functioning democracies require well-informed citizens, as only informed citizens can exercise their rights effectively.   Daniel Webster famously wrote in 1843 that “Knowledge is the only fountain both of the love and the principles of human liberty.”  I think Daniel Webster would have approved of this initiative.

As I read through the pamphlet, I was impressed by the concise, straightforward fashion in which it explains the constitutional guarantee against arbitrary arrest and detention, including every detainee’s right to be informed of the grounds of his or her arrest, and its clear explanations of the bail application process.   I understand the Law Society intends to translate the pamphlet into most of the principal languages spoken in Namibia.   That is a very good thing and will go a long way toward ensuring that the largest possible number of Namibians have access to this important information.     

If you will allow me a brief editorial comment -- it is a very good sign indeed when civil society organizations such as the Legal Assistance Center and the Law Society can collaborate with government – in this case via the Prosecutor General’s office – on activities of this kind.  Please let's give all three a round of applause for their excellent work on this project.  

I want to make a brief mention of the U.S. Government program that provided assistance to this project.  The U.S. Embassy’s Democracy and Human Rights Fund (DHRF) supports activities that promote political pluralism and human and civil rights.  DHRF finances activities that are distinct, high-impact, and short-term.  It is highly competitive and awards grants only to the best proposals from all over Namibia.  This pamphlet is one of several projects that the Embassy funded under the DHRF program this year.   I encourage those of you who might be interested in seeking funding for future activities, please feel free to approach me after the ceremony, and I will put you in touch with the person who runs the program.

To conclude, I would like to thank once again those individuals and organizations responsible for this project.   I applaud your hard work and commitment to democracy-building, and I look forward to hearing more about the impact of this activity and your future successes.