LAGOS, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Justice Ministers of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) member states have agreed on the establishment of an appellate mechanism within the organization's justice system, said a communique issued in Abuja on Friday.

    The communique, issued at the end of a three-day meeting, said the appellate mechanism would allow litigants who are dissatisfied with the decisions of the existing court to appeal for a review.

    The ministers agreed that the establishment of the bi-level system of jurisdiction would better guarantee the dispensation of justice and protect the rights of complainants.

    The ECOWAS Revised Treaty of 1993 that set up the Community Court of Justice stipulates that the decisions of the court are final and not subject to appeal.

    The current practice allows individuals and corporate entities direct access to the Court on application for relief for violation of their human rights that occur in any ECOWAS member state, provided the application is not anonymous and is not before another international court.

    Meanwhile, the ministers also set criteria for selecting host countries for ECOWAS institutions and agencies.

    They also agreed on the need to improve the legal regime of ECOWAS Community Acts as well as rules of procedure of the Authority of Heads of State and Government.

    The recommendations of the ministers will be presented to the next session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers.