JUDICIARY REVIEWS GENDER POLICY TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO JUSTICE

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The Judiciary is reviewing its Gender and Equity Policy to remove barriers faced by court users and staff, strengthen accountability and promote equal opportunities in recruitment, training and career advancement.

The Judiciary has begun reviewing its Gender and Equity Policy to strengthen access to justice, eliminate institutional barriers and promote equal opportunities for judicial officers and other staff.

The review started on Wednesday during a two-day retreat of the Human Capital Development, Gender and Equity Mainstreaming Committee at Protea Hotel in Entebbe, held in partnership with UN Women.

Supreme Court Justice Catherine Bamugemereire, who chairs the committee, said the revised policy should translate the principles of equality, dignity and fairness into practical measures across the Judiciary’s operations.

Bamugemereire said court users should be able to participate effectively in judicial proceedings and seek legal remedies without encountering systemic barriers. She also emphasised the need to address structural challenges affecting staff welfare, professional development and career advancement.

She urged the committee to draw lessons from the previous policy and its evaluation to develop a framework with measurable targets, clearly defined responsibilities and effective accountability mechanisms.

Bamugemereire also observed that gender responsiveness complements judicial independence by enabling courts to consider the circumstances of different court users fairly while remaining guided by the law.

Chief Registrar Agnes Alum reaffirmed the Judiciary’s commitment to the principle of “Justice for All”, calling for the removal of barriers affecting vulnerable groups, including women, children, older persons and persons with disabilities.

Alum stressed the need to promote equitable opportunities for judicial officers and other Judiciary staff in recruitment, training and career progression.

She urged the committee to prioritise practical interventions, including accessible court facilities, gender-sensitive procedures, staff capacity building, the collection of disaggregated data and stronger mechanisms to monitor implementation of the revised policy.

Speaking on behalf of the UN Women Deputy Country Representative, Access to Justice Specialist Beatrice Mulindwa commended the Judiciary’s efforts to advance gender equality and access to justice.

Mulindwa said the review provided an opportunity to assess progress under the existing framework, address persistent institutional barriers and strengthen the integration of gender equality into the Judiciary’s institutional culture, human capital development and administration of justice.

She emphasised that gender equality should be addressed both within the Judiciary as an institution and in the delivery of services to the public.

Mulindwa called for concrete commitments to improve workplace safety, promote equal opportunities, support timely court processes and strengthen public trust in the justice system, particularly among women and girls.

She also urged the committee to establish clear priorities, allocate resources and develop a robust framework for tracking implementation, reaffirming UN Women’s continued partnership with the Judiciary.

During the retreat, Principal Policy Analyst Julius Caesor Kagoro presented the rationale for reviewing the previous policy, findings from its evaluation, the proposed strategic objectives and the implementation framework for the revised policy.

The committee subsequently began a clause-by-clause review of the draft, focusing on refining its provisions and addressing operational considerations to ensure that gender and equity commitments translate into practical, measurable interventions.

The two-day retreat is expected to help shape a revised policy framework aimed at strengthening institutional accountability, improving staff welfare and promoting more equitable access to justice for all court users.

Written by newsroom-radiopacis