Sun City:The Access to Justice International Conference, hosted by Mmamoloko Kubayi, the Minister of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DJCOD), is set to begin this week at the Sun City Convention Centre in the North West province. The conference will run from Wednesday to Friday, November 13, and aims to provide a platform for various stakeholders, including governments, judiciaries, academia, and civil society, to address emerging justice challenges and promote innovative solutions.
According to South African Government News Agency, the conference will bring together heads of United Nations agencies, 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 representatives from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Ministers from Southern African Development Community (SADC) and BRICS countries, along with judicial officers, prosecutors, civil society representatives, and academics, will also participate.
The conference will focus on several key areas, including digital transformation, legal aid, and alternative dispute resolution, all aimed at improving access to justice. It seeks to develop practical strategies to enhance justice systems, particularly for vulnerable and underserved communities. Minister Kubayi emphasized the importance of partnerships and innovative approaches in ensuring that justice systems are accessible, understandable, and trustworthy.
The DJCOD highlighted that the conference coincides with South Africa's 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution, which has played a crucial role in anchoring political stability and supporting a vibrant civil society. However, the department noted ongoing challenges such as inequality, corruption, gender-based violence, and unemployment, which threaten the promises enshrined in the Constitution. The conference aims to address these challenges by ensuring meaningful access to justice, which is essential for achieving Sustainable Development Goals and building peaceful, inclusive societies.
