Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DJCOD) Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi, is set to host the Access to Justice International Conference, taking place this week.
The conference, which will get underway on Wednesday and run until Friday, 13 November, provides a platform for governments, judiciaries, academia, civil society, international organisations and development partners to:
- examine emerging justice challenges;
- share comparative experiences and best practices;
- promote innovative and people-centred justice solutions;
- explore how digital transformation, legal aid and alternative dispute resolution can improve access to justice;
- strengthen institutional cooperation; and
- develop practical and actionable strategies to improve access to justice for all, particularly vulnerable and underserved communities.
The conference will be held at the Sun City Convention Centre in the North West province.
Participants at the conference will include the heads of United Nations agencies and the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the President of the International Criminal Court (ICC), the ICC Deputy Chief Prosecutor and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) representatives.
Ministers in attendance will include those from Southern African Development Community (SADC) and BRICS countries as well judicial officers, prosecutors, civil society representatives and academics.
“Access to justice cannot be separated from access to the broader social and economic rights guaranteed by our Constitution. Through this conference, we want to strengthen partnerships and encourage innovative approaches to access to justice, including improved access to legal aid, digital justice services, alternative dispute resolution and more responsive support systems for victims of crime.
“Our collective ambition must be to build justice systems that people can access, understand and trust,” Kubayi stated.
The DJCOD noted that the conference comes to South African shores as the country marks 30 the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution.
“In the three decades since 1996, the Constitution has proven remarkably resilient: it has anchored political stability, enabled a vibrant civil society, and provided a moral and legal compass through times of turbulence and transformation.
“Yet, it also faces new tests. Persistent inequality, corruption, gender-based violence, unemployment, and erosion of trust in public institutions which have placed the promises of 1996 under strain.
“Without meaningful access to justice, rights remain theoretical, institutions lose public trust, and vulnerable communities are left behind. Ensuring equal access to justice for all is therefore central to achieving Sustainable Development Goals and building peaceful, inclusive and resilient societies,” the department stated. – SAnews.gov.za
