Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting (CLMM) calls for stronger action on people-centred access to justice at meeting in Zanzibar

Commonwealth Law Ministers and Attorney-Generals from 23 jurisdictions met in Zanzibar and called for stronger action to ensure that access to justice becomes a reality for the 2.5 billion citizens of the Commonwealth.

The biennial meeting was inaugurated by the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, who underscored the crucial role of law in addressing unprecedented global challenges and described the meeting as a timely opportunity to cooperate on strengthening legal systems, saying:

“This forum will open doors for further collaboration, innovation, and collective action as we strive to meet the evolving needs of our societies. Together, we can build a better future where justice prevails, and the rights of every individual are protected to sustain sustainable development across Commonwealth nations.”

The CLMM was held on the theme of ‘How digitalisation paves the way for the development of people-centred access to justice’, with a focus on the use of technology to enhance legal services and improving access to justice. According to the latest statistic, more than 5.1 billion people – two-thirds of the world’s population – lack meaningful access to justice. Lost income and stress-related illness due to seeking legal redress can cost countries up to 3 per cent of their gross domestic product every year.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Rt Hon. Patricia Scotland, KC, told more than 400 Ministers and senior government officials, including the CPA Secretary-General, Stephen Twigg, that:

“It is our responsibility to drive forward the paradigm shift agreed at our last meeting in Mauritius to deliver on the Commonwealth Access to Justice Declaration and ensure that people of the Commonwealth know they have access to justice because they can taste it, see it and feel it.” She also commended the work of Commonwealth Law Ministers and called for even greater emphasis to be placed on justice as an ‘essential strength’ in overcoming the current challenges.

The CPA Secretary-General also joined other Commonwealth Accredited Organisations in addressing Commonwealth Law Ministers to update them on initiatives taking place across the network, such as the CPA’s work on promoting the Commonwealth Latimer House Principles on the Separation of Powers between the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary and the CPA’s Working Group on Human Rights.

CPA Secretary-General visits CPA Africa Regional Secretariat and CPA Tanzania Branch

Ahead of the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting (CLMM), the CPA Secretary-General, Stephen Twigg met with the CPA Africa Regional Secretary, Ms Nenelwa Joyce Mwihambi, who is also the Clerk of the National Assembly of Tanzania, in Dodoma to discuss the CPA’s activities in the CPA Africa Region. The meeting was also attended by the Assistant CPA Africa Regional Secretary, Daniel Eliufoo, Director of Communications at the Parliament of Tanzania and Sharon Moses, Head of Human Resources at the CPA Headquarters Secretariat.

The CPA Africa Region is the largest of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association’s nine Regions, comprising of 63 national and subnational Legislatures, ranging from Tanzania and The Seychelles to South Africa and The Gambia. 

During his visit to Tanzania, the CPA Secretary-General also met with Stella Manda and Sizarina Hamisi from UN Women Tanzania to discuss the ongoing work of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) network in promoting equal representation in Parliaments and promoting gender equality.

This follows the collaboration with UN Women Tanzania during a successful CWP ‘Champions for Gender Equality’ Workshop hosted by the Parliament of Tanzania and the CPA Africa Region in December 2023.

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The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association connects, develops, promotes and supports Parliamentarians and their staff to identify benchmarks of good governance and the implementation of the enduring values of the Commonwealth. The CPA is an international community of around 180 Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures working together to deepen the Commonwealth’s commitment to the highest standards of democratic governance.

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