Somaliland
Mobile courts speed up justice in Somaliland
April 27, 2011 · 5 Comments
HARGEISA — The UNDP has helped establish mobile courts in all regions in Hargeisa, Burao, Berbera, Borama and Erigavo, speeding and simplifying access to justice for hundreds of people across Somaliland.
The mobile courts, an initiative that falls under the UNDP’s Access to Justice Project, are helping vulnerable groups living in rural and isolated areas access justice, particularly women, children, minorities and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
Established in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, the courts use past experiences to engage and support traditional justice mechanisms, and support legal aid and legal clinic services, reducing the cost for those who use the courts.
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Lawyers from the Somaliland Lawyers Association (SOLLA), the implementing partner organization, travel with members of the judiciary and prosecutors to help clients identify their legal claims, providing legal assistance as required.
One woman who has benefitted from the mobile courts is 40-year-old
Hibo Haji Yusuf from the Elafweyn District. She says that the mobile court in Erigavo helped to resolve her case quickly:
“I decided to take my case to a court only when I heard that Erigavo mobile court is coming to Elafweyn. I submitted my case to the mobile court through the Elafweyn District court. Judges from Erigavo Regional Court came and stayed for three days. They heard my case and quickly gave judgment.”
“I did not have enough money to cover expenses if I had filed my case in Erigavo Regional Court. The mobile court came in handy,” explains Hibo.
The UNDP’s Access to Justice Project prioritizes initiatives that support the prevention and prosecution of sexual and gender-based violence cases. The project also works to strengthen institutions and civil society to monitor and safeguard human rights in the country and make recommendations to address human rights issues.
The popularity of the mobile courts is reflected in the increase of court cases across the country.
The number of cases heard by mobile courts in the five regions increased from 255 in 2009 to 418 in 2010.
The mobile courts were established in 2008.
Source: UNDP | April 27, 2011
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Tags: Mobile Courts, Somaliland, UNDP
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Progress everywhere. We are emerging from the stagnation that persisted for a period of time.
Al Caafiya taji qaliil, qaliil. What we need is togetherness against evil doers.
Mashallah Mashallah! As long as Somaliland behaves justly and safeguards the rights of all especially women and IDPs, Allah(swt) will continue to bless our land on many fronts. Another idea Somaliland should pursue is perhaps collaborating with known and established islamic countries to establish world class islamic universities. This will help Somaliland retain its strong Islamic hertiage as it moves towards modernization. Just an Idea!
It says it is a UNDP initiative. See how useless our own people are when it comes to something as simple as this. If they are short of trained officials, they could have opened courts for certain length of months, and parted to go to other regions for another length of time. But leaving people with access to mediations and resolutions is unacceptable.
They should think ahead and not depend on UNDP program; an organisaton who disrespects the people of Somaliland and calls them "non-existent country".
What's the Judicial Justices Branch of Somaliland doing when the UNDP is doing their JOB???
Cheers.
UN and it´s dirty branches are a card being used by the so called super powers. < VETO.