TANZANIAN CHIEF JUSTICE SEEKS INCREASED COLLABORATION IN BUILDING PEOPLE CENTRED JUSTICE SYSTEM

By FAUSTINE KAPAMA-Judiciary, Dodoma

THE Chief Justice of Tanzania, His Lordship Prof. Ibrahim Hamis Juma has called for continued collaboration and strengthening of institutional partnership between criminal justice actors in Ireland and Tanzania in order to build justice system that truly serves people.

His Lordship Prof. Juma made such a call today dated February 1, 2025 in Dodoma while opening the High-Level Judicial Symposium on Victim-Centred Criminal Justice: Sexual Violence and Trauma, which was attended by several officers from Judiciary of Tanzania, Ireland and other Institutions.

“It should be clear to all of us that criminal justice is not just a matter of laws and procedures. It is about people's dignity, fostering healing and creating hope. By working together, we can build a justice system that truly serves its people, ensuring no one is left behind,” the Chief Justice said.

His Lordship Prof. Juma pointed out that such High-Level Symposium was one of the many collaborative activities involving Tanzania, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

He said that the collaboration traced back to the Memorandum of Understanding, which was executed in March 2022 between the Institute of Judicial Administration Lushoto (IJA) and the Irish Rule of Law International (IRLI) to strengthen the institutional partnership between criminal justice actors in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Tanzania.

“The Memorandum focuses on the improvement of victim-centric practices and survivor-focused approaches in terms of justice in child sexual abuse investigation and adjudication and more broadly within gender and sexual violence to aid effective and timely investigation and adjudication of cases,” the Chief Justice said.

His Lordship Prof. Juma applauded the role of Principal of the Institute of Judicial Administration, also doubles as Tanzania Court of Appeal Justice, Hon. Dr. Paul Faustine Kihwelo, who personally and through the judicial college, lead for the organization of all those symposia.

He reminded the participants that they were all involved in the criminal justice system and that the high-level judicial symposium on the victim-centred criminal justice system is about them.

The Chief Justice explained that apart from the topic which brings them together, the symposium manifests a strong and expanding collaboration between the Judiciary of Tanzania and its judicial training college, the Institute of Judicial Administration located in Lushoto, in one hand, and the Embassy of Ireland to Tanzania and the Irish Rule of Law International, on the other.

According to him, the high-level judicial symposium on victim-centred criminal justice illustrates the deepening of cooperation and shared purpose of making human dignity central part of the criminal justice system.

“Today's Symposium will enable us to share our practical experiences and expertise. It will allow us to add our respective practical insights on such pertinent areas as the protection of the victim of crime, minimizing any further harm and how we can extend help to the victims of crime,” he said.

His Lordship Prof. Juma challenged Tanzania to learn from the Irish Journey towards a more victim-centred criminal justice system and how Ireland domesticates international principles that support a victim-centred approach to the administration of criminal justice.

The Chief Justice recalled that on November 1985, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power.

Such Declaration took a stand that victims of crimes should get compassionate treatment and respect for their dignity and the victims' entitlement to prompt redress for the harm they have suffered through access to the criminal justice system, reparation, and services to assist their recovery.  

“The Declaration recommends measures international, regional and national jurisdictions should take on behalf of victims of crime to improve access to justice and fair treatment, restitution, compensation and assistance. It also outlines the main steps to prevent victimization linked to abuse of power and provide remedies for the victims,” he said.

In 1998, His Lordship said, the Law Reform Commission of Tanzania presented to the Government of Tanzania its research report, Criminal Law as a Vehicle for the Protection of the Right to Personal Integrity, Dignity and Liberty of Women, 1998.

Such report urged the Government to give the UN Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power a legislative foothold in Tanzania (domesticate).

The Chief Justice of Tanzania, His Lordship Prof. Ibrahim Hamis Juma speaking while opening the High-Level Judicial Symposium on Victim-Centred Criminal Justice: Sexual Violence and Trauma in Dodoma today dated February 1, 2025.

 Principal of the Institute of Judicial Administration and Tanzania Court of Appeal Justice, Hon. Dr. Paul Faustine Kihwelo speaking during the symposium.

Some attendants to the symposium (above and below) following closely what was being discussed.

Court of Appeal Justice Ferdinand Wambari (centre) leads a discussion during the symposium.

The Chief Justice of Tanzania, His Lordship Prof. Ibrahim Hamis Juma (centre) leads members of the High Table  in a group picture with Justices of the Court of Appeal of Tanzania, who attended the symposium in question. Below are members of the Tanzania Women Judges and Magistrate Association (TAWJA) in a memorable picture with the High Table.