The Applicants further contends that the Respondent's second point is irrelevant and
does not advance its case as there is no restriction in this court's rule on locus standi
for human rights cases which requires that, in the case of membership organizations,
only
entities with
membership
exclusively
from
ECOWAS
member
states
are
entitled to bring applications before the court. The Applicants submits that, insofar
as the nationality of a non-governmental organization is relevant, it must be that the
location of the country in which it is registered, and whether it is properly recognized
that matters.
The applicants submits that the 3rd applicant continues living in exile even till date,
to suffer a violation of her rights as a journalist, her rights of freedom of expression
and liberty by virtue of her being forced to remain in exile.
In addition, they continued that the Gambia's persistent and continuous omission in
failing to repeal the domestic criminal laws under which the 3rd Applicant's rights
were breached means that The Gambia's violation ought to be viewed as continuing
until this day, since those provisions remain in force.
In conclusion, the Applicants submits that, even if the 3rd Applicant were to be held
technically out of time to bring her claim (which is denied), then this Court ought to
exercise its discretion to extend, in the interest of justice
13