India Backs New Measures for Enhanced Justice Access at Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting

India Backs New Measures for Enhanced Justice Access at Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting

VoM News Desk | March 14, 2024 | 11:28 AM IST | Breaking News, Courts & Law | Follow on Google News

India Backs New Measures for Enhanced Justice Access at Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting/ANI

India Backs New Measures for Enhanced Justice Access at Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting

Commonwealth nations, including India, have embraced a new set of measures aimed at enhancing access to justice, announced The Commonwealth in a recent press release. These measures, resulting from four days of deliberations among law ministers during their biennial meeting in Tanzania, were guided by input from various stakeholders, including individuals with disabilities, civil society representatives, and legal sector innovators.

Key Provisions for Access to Justice

Under these measures, law ministers have committed to intensifying efforts to eliminate barriers to justice and meet the legal needs of all citizens. Key provisions include enhanced access to justice for individuals with disabilities, the introduction of a model law on virtual assets, a new action plan to combat online violence against women, and a proposal to eradicate gender-discriminatory legislation. Ministers have also welcomed a range of new legal resources, such as a mediation guide, a small claims court app for dispute resolution, and a database for cooperation on criminal matters.

Commonwealth Takes Action

Furthermore, ministers have adopted Commonwealth guidelines on the treatment of electronic evidence in criminal proceedings, aimed at providing member countries with a framework for crafting national legislation. To facilitate implementation, ministers have tasked the Commonwealth Law Ministers Action Group with reporting progress at the next meeting.

These measures, endorsed by ministers representing one-third of humanity, reflect the Commonwealth’s commitment to ensuring equal access to justice for all. Speaking after the meeting, Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland stressed the critical nature of these measures, given that two-thirds of the world’s population lacks meaningful access to justice. She emphasized the importance of modernizing legal systems across the Commonwealth to achieve this goal.

These decisions will shape the agenda for the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa later this year. The next meeting will be hosted by the Government of Fiji in February 2026.

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