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Southern African Chief Justices Forum

The South African Chief Justice Forum provides a formal platform, structure and framework through which the Chief Justices of Eastern and Southern Africa and Africa at large are able to collectively reflect on critical issues on justice delivery and adopt action plans to address those issues in a systematic and sustained way in order to strengthen justice delivery in the our region.

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About Us

Introduction

In recognition and amplification of the important role that judiciaries play within the regions, the Southern African Chief Justices Forum was established in 2003 to, among other things, uphold the rule of law, democracy and independence of the courts and to promote contact as well as co-operate among the courts in the regions of its operation.

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Our Vision

A transformed, independent, integrated and united judiciary which promotes the rule of law, fundamental human right, democracy and good governance to ensure prosperity, equality, peace and security of all citizens.

Mission

Providing a formal platform, structure and framework through which the Chief Justices of Eastern and Southern Africa and Africa at large are able to collectively reflect on critical issues on justice delivery and adopt action plans to address those issues in a systematic and sustained way in order to strengthen justice delivery in the region (s). in particular the SACJF commits to;

  • Protect and promote democracy, justice, the rule of law, and fundamental human rights as enshrined in the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and other instruments that have been adopted by the AU and its member states such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights.
  • Advance access to the courts by all citizens, especially women and children, by collaborating with governments and civil society to educate and empower them on their rights.
  • Promote provision of state-funded legal aid schemes in different jurisdictions.
  • Work with the AU, AU sub-regional bodies and AU member states to secure the institutional independence of the African Judiciaries legislatively and functionally.
  • Strive to ensure transformed, learning, accountable, effective and efficient judiciaries through the establishment of Judicial Code of Conduct, and a system of Monitoring and Evaluation.
  • Further, strive to promote good governance and eradication of corruption.

Seacjf’s Objectives

1. To promote contact and co-operation among the courts in the region.
2. To promote the rule of law, democracy and the independence of the courts in the region.
3. To promote and protect the welfare and dignity of judges in the member countries.
4. To establish a website at which judgments of the highest courts in the region can be collected.
5. To provide assistance to courts and to promote cooperation among judicial training institutions.
6. To arrange colloquia at which links between courts in the region can be strengthened and matters of common interest discussed.
7. To maintain contact and exchanges with other institutions in Africa and elsewhere having similar objects.
8. To encourage the publication and dissemination of judgments of the superior courts and the use of information technology.
9. To generally to promote the interests of the judiciaries of member countries and, where it is considered appropriate to do so, of any other country in the region.

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