 The courts of first instance correspond to the : o 11 regional tribunals including the Dakar court of special jurisdiction whose territorial competence falls within the administrative boundaries of the region where they are located; o 33 departmental courts68; o 11 labour courts o 1 Military court. 195. The Constitution guarantees that every individual must be heard and it recognizes the principle of legality of criminal offences and penalties and the right to defence69, which is absolute at all stages of the judicial process. 196. These provisions are supplemented with two cardinal texts, the Criminal Code (CC) and the Code of Criminal Procedure (CCP), one guaranteeing the legality of criminal offences and penalties, and the other specifying in the various provisions the ways and means victims may proceed to inform the public service of the judiciary. 197. Senegalese courts give their rulings independently and in the event where one of the parties to the trial is not satisfied, he may appeal to a superior court, or where necessary, he can appeal to the Court of Cassation. 198. Senegalese law recognizes the mechanism of the exception of unconstitutionality of laws which allows a party to raise the unconstitutionality of a law or an international treaty ratified by Senegal before the Supreme Court. 199. To protect the rights and freedoms of citizens from any form of arbitrariness by the authorities, Article 92 of the Constitution provides for:   Appeals concerning the misuse of authority which allows every individual with an interest in the annulment of a ruling of an administrative authority to make a request to the administrative Chamber of the Supreme Court for that purpose; Full remedy actions are open to any person whose rights have been violated by any administrative action of the Government. 200. However, poverty and illiteracy are major challenges to individuals getting greater access to justice. In order to bring individuals close to the judicial system and facilitate their access to the courts, the government established a Justice Sector Programme (JSP) in 2004 over a period of 10 years with the main aim of ensuring good governance at the judicial level through the consolidation of the rule of law, improvement of the business environment and more importantly safeguarding the security of persons and property. 68 Dakar, Pikine, Guédiawaye, Rufisque, Thiès, Tivaouane, Mbour, Diourbel, Mbaké, Bambey, Kaolack, Kaffrine, Nioro, Fatick, Gossas, Foundiougne, Ziguinchor, Bignona, Oussouye, Kolda, Vélingara, Sédhiou, Tambacounda, Kédougou, Bakel, Louga, Linguère, Kébémer, St-Louis, Podor, Dagana, Matam and Bakel. 69 Article 9 of the Constitution. 45

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