Port Louis : No conversation on the rule of law can be complete without a discussion on access to justice for citizens across the Commonwealth, said the Commonwealth Secretary-General the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland, at the opening ceremony of the 2022 Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting (CLMM), this week.
The Commonwealth is an association of 56 countries, home to 2.5 billion people. It includes both advanced economies and developing countries. The meeting is being hosted by the Government of Mauritius from November 22 to 25 in Port Louis under the theme of 'Strengthening international cooperation through the rule of law and the protection of human rights,' Mauritius' digital news publication Le Matinal reported.
"We must transform our justice systems to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. We face a huge task, and we have a huge responsibility, but this meeting is a real opportunity to craft a new legal settlement for the Commonwealth, which is fit for the times in which we live. We must enable the efficient delivery of swift, fair, effective and principled justice to strengthen the relationship between the work of Law Ministers and the full scope of the Commonwealth's work across a range of national ministries," Secretary-General Scotland was quoted as saying in a statement by The Commonwealth.
"Through our system of friendship, interdependence and interoperability, our member states are strengthened in the pursuit of better lives for all Commonwealth citizens. We can ensure that the best way to deliver justice lies in perfected justice systems, operating in societies in which we systematically tackle the causes of injustice," she added.
In his opening remarks, the Attorney-General of Mauritius, Maneesh Gobin said: "Mauritius and each Commonwealth State, have pledged to safeguard the rights and interests of their citizens within the framework of the rule of law and the protection of human rights. However, today, it no longer suffices that people are protected at the national level only, but in effect, a universal approach has become pressingly imperative. In this context, Law Ministers of the Commonwealth are committed to strengthening international cooperation for the furtherance of the Commonwealth goals and objectives."
A key focus of the CLMM 2022 is the Commonwealth Plan of Action on the Equal Access to Justice Declaration. In 2019, Commonwealth Law Ministers adopted a Declaration on Equal Access to Justice, to prioritise access to justice across the Commonwealth. To ensure the implementation of the declaration, the Commonwealth Secretariat developed this action plan, as well as practical toolkits and best practice guides for governments.
At this week's meeting, Law ministers will hear presentations on the themes of people-centred justice and the future of our courts. Ministers will adopt recommendations by the end of the meeting on November 25, which will inform justice work in their respective countries across the Commonwealth.