On the fourteenth anniversary of the shocking and unjust executions of the Ogoni 9, plaintiffs, lawyers, campaigners, and long-time supporters came together for an evening in Washington, DC to honor the legacy of the those brave Ogoni leaders and celebrate the landmark settlement in the case against Royal Dutch Shell.

While recognizing that the historic settlement is only a step towards the resolution of still outstanding issues between Shell and the Ogoni people, the case brought to a close a 14 year struggle for justice and accountability for the plaintiffs. The case also has had far-reaching implications in the development of legal norms for corporate human rights abuses, while inspiring communities around the globe struggling against corporate abuses.

Guests reminisced over the many long days working on the case and campaign for justice, the victories won, and the continuing struggle of the Ogoni people for a just share of their oil wealth and their right to a healthy environment. Elizabeth Bast from Friends of the Earth and Shell Guilty spoke on the need to end gas flaring, which continues unabated in the Niger Delta, contributing to poor localized health outcomes as well as global climate change.

Ken Wiwa Jr. (left) remarked that, after 14 years, we can finally start celebrating his father's life rather than mourning his loss. He also talked about recent developments in the Niger Delta, with a mixture of hope and caution over companies' and the government's approach to local communities and the environment.

The evening concluded with Oronto Douglas (right, with Judith Chomsky, lawyer for the plaintiffs), one of Ken Saro-Wiwa's lawyers from the 1995 tribunal proceedings, reminding all that this case was not just about the Ogoni, but about all those communities in the Niger Delta affected by resource extraction, and that, while this case has concluded, the struggle continues.

"Lord take my soul but the struggle continues"
Ken Sao-Wiwa before his execution on November 14, 2005