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DCJ Kazibwe rallies judicial officers on gender-responsive justice
“Those who come before our courts must be heard, treated with dignity and protected equally under the law,” said Justice Kazibwe.
DCJ Kazibwe rallies judicial officers on gender-responsive justice
By: Michael Odeng, Journalist @New Vision
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The Deputy Chief Justice, Moses Kawumi Kazibwe, has called on judicial officers to champion gender-responsive adjudication as a key pillar in enhancing access to justice for all Ugandans.
Kazibwe made the remarks today (June 11), while flagging off a two-day refresher training of trainers on Gender-Responsive Adjudication for judicial officers under the International Association of Women Judges–Uganda Chapter (IAWJ-UC) at Lake Victoria Granada Hotel in Entebbe.
The training, organised by the Judiciary with support from United Nations Women, the Australian Development Cooperation and the Gender Justice Platform, is being conducted under the theme, “Strengthening Judicial Capacity to Advance Gender-Responsive Adjudication in Uganda.”
The programme targets IAWJ-UC members from whom trainers will be selected to facilitate similar training sessions across the country.
The training seeks to equip newly appointed judicial officers with the knowledge and tools needed to advance gender-responsive justice.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, Justice Kazibwe commended IAWJ-UC and its development partners for their continued efforts to strengthen the capacity of judicial officers to deliver equitable, inclusive and responsive justice.
He noted that the Judiciary’ s legitimacy is founded not only on the law but also on public confidence in the justice system.
“Those who come before our courts must be heard, treated with dignity and protected equally under the law,” he said.
The deputy chief justice observed that judicial impartiality requires an appreciation of the lived realities and circumstances of court users.
The training seeks to equip newly appointed judicial officers with the knowledge and tools needed to advance gender-responsive justice.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, Justice Kazibwe commended IAWJ-UC and its development partners for their continued efforts to strengthen the capacity of judicial officers to deliver equitable, inclusive and responsive justice.
He noted that the Judiciary’ s legitimacy is founded not only on the law but also on public confidence in the justice system.
“Those who come before our courts must be heard, treated with dignity and protected equally under the law,” he said.
The deputy chief justice observed that judicial impartiality requires an appreciation of the lived realities and circumstances of court users.
He welcomed the participation of Justices, Judges, Registrars and Magistrates, emphasising that access to justice is a shared institutional responsibility.
“Gender-responsive adjudication is not about creating special rights. It is about ensuring that judicial decision-making takes into account and addresses the social, economic, cultural and structural barriers that limit access to justice and full participation,” Kazibwe said.
He urged judicial officers to translate the principles of gender-responsive adjudication from training rooms into courtroom practice, judicial decisions, case management processes and everyday interactions with court users.
Justice Kazibwe highlighted persistent challenges that continue to hinder access to justice including gender-based violence, sexual offences, domestic abuse, forced marriages, female genital mutilation, widow inheritance, cyber harassment and land disputes involving widows.
Citing findings from the 2024 Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL) Report on Justice Needs and Satisfaction in Uganda, he noted that survivors of gender-based violence often face social, economic and institutional barriers, while emerging forms of technology-facilitated violence such as cyber harassment and digital blackmail are creating new obstacles in the pursuit of justice.
HiiL is an organisation dedicated to ensuring that justice is accessible, affordable, and easy to understand.
“These issues demonstrate that gender-responsive adjudication is an essential response to the persistent challenges faced by women, children and other vulnerable groups,” he said.
Kazibwe said the “Justice for Her project”, implemented through a partnership between UN Women Uganda, IAWJ-UC and the judiciary has enhanced the courts’ ability to respond to the needs of survivors of gender-based violence through survivor-centred justice approaches, improved case prioritisation, strengthened judicial training and the use of technology to address systemic barriers.
“Gender-responsive adjudication is not about creating special rights. It is about ensuring that judicial decision-making takes into account and addresses the social, economic, cultural and structural barriers that limit access to justice and full participation,” Kazibwe said.
He urged judicial officers to translate the principles of gender-responsive adjudication from training rooms into courtroom practice, judicial decisions, case management processes and everyday interactions with court users.
Justice Kazibwe highlighted persistent challenges that continue to hinder access to justice including gender-based violence, sexual offences, domestic abuse, forced marriages, female genital mutilation, widow inheritance, cyber harassment and land disputes involving widows.
Citing findings from the 2024 Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL) Report on Justice Needs and Satisfaction in Uganda, he noted that survivors of gender-based violence often face social, economic and institutional barriers, while emerging forms of technology-facilitated violence such as cyber harassment and digital blackmail are creating new obstacles in the pursuit of justice.
HiiL is an organisation dedicated to ensuring that justice is accessible, affordable, and easy to understand.
“These issues demonstrate that gender-responsive adjudication is an essential response to the persistent challenges faced by women, children and other vulnerable groups,” he said.
Kazibwe said the “Justice for Her project”, implemented through a partnership between UN Women Uganda, IAWJ-UC and the judiciary has enhanced the courts’ ability to respond to the needs of survivors of gender-based violence through survivor-centred justice approaches, improved case prioritisation, strengthened judicial training and the use of technology to address systemic barriers.