• Law:
• Justice

Justice

The Section collaborates closely with other divisions of the Secretariat on issues relating to the rule of law and the promotion of democratic values.

The Justice Section of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Division (LCAD) collaborates closely with other divisions of the Secretariat on issues relating to the rule of law and the promotion of democratic values.

The work of the Justice Section focuses on:

• constitutional and public law development including electoral and other good governance issues;
• administration of and access to justice; and
• policy and law reform in matters relating to land, freedom of information, privacy and data protection.

It works closely with the Political Affairs Division in advising and facilitating assistance to member countries in constitutional and justice sector reforms. The Section is developing programmes to raise awareness, amongst member countries, of developments in international law which impact on national constitutions.

Working in collaboration with the CMJA, CLA, CPA and CLEA, the Section will take the lead in the Division's work in member countries in strengthening good governance within the framework of the Commonwealth Principles, by sensitising both the public sector and some sections of the non-governmental sector, to the demands of good, open and accountable government.

The Section has developed programmes to assist member countries in policy development on the administration of, and access to, justice and to generate principles and best practice guidelines for the speedy and effective resolution of disputes. Institutions that are comprehensible, relevant and affordable and, importantly, resolve matters swiftly and effectively, are necessary for people to enjoy the right of access to justice. The difficulty of members of the public in understanding the courts system and its procedures undermines their confidence in the system, and reduced public confidence adds to the pressures of courts to ensure both that justice is done and that justice is seen to be done by members of the general public.

The Section also assists member countries in developing:

land policy and strengthening the legal framework relating to land as mandated by the Kingstown Declaration of Law Ministers at their meeting in 2002;

laws on freedom of information, privacy and data protection based on model laws developed by the Division; and

in collaboration with law faculties of Commonwealth universities, curricula for short-term intensive training programmes for legislative drafters at a regional level, and monitoring the implementation of the training programme.