CMJA and COVID-19

The CMJA is following the UK Government's advice on COVID-19. The CMJA Office has now reopened as of 1 September 2020. You will need to make an appointment, at least a week in advance, if you wish to visit the office, to ensure that we comply with the current guidelines for the building.

Dr Karen Brewer, CMJA Secretary General

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AROUND THE COMMONWEALTH AND BEYOND

October 2018
Seychelles
The Tribunal set up to investigate the Chief Justice found that "the evidence, either taken piecemeal or as a whole, does not disclose any misconduct or inappropriate conduct on the part of the Chief Justice. To the contrary the only conclusion reasonably open on that evidence is that she acted with complete propriety on all the occasions called into question. It follows that no action should be taken by the President under Article 134 of the Constitution in respect of the office of Chief Justice"

8 June 2018
Seychelles
The Southern African Chief Justice Forum (SACJF) issued an Exit Statement on their Mission to Seychelles. Click here for the Statement.

9 May 2018
Lesotho
The Southern African Chief Justices Forum (SACJF) issued a statement about the situation of the Chief Justice of Lesotho. Click here for the Statement.

14 April 2018
Nauru
The Judiciary of Nauru issued a Statement following the press releases in early April about the Removal of Appeals to the High Court of Australia. Click here for the Press Release.

11 January 2018 -

Judicial Conference of Australia issues a media statement:

Judges and Magistrates Should not be Collateral Damage in Political Dispute.
Click here for the Statement.

September 2020
The CMJA together with the Commonwealth Legal Education Association (CLEA), Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA), Commonwealth Journalists Association (CJA) and Rechters voor Rechters (Judges for Judges) issued a Statement on the Proposed 20th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka on 22 September 2020

July 2020
The CMJA issues Principles on The Funding and Resourcing of the Judiciary in the Commonweath

June 2020
On 30 June, the CMJA, CLEA, CLA and Rechters voor Rechters issued a statement commending the Judiciary and Parliament of Malawi on following the constution, international obligations and democratic principles in the holding of the Presidential election on 23 June 2020. See Statement on the Elections in Malawi

On 15 June, the CMJA, CLEA, CLA and Rechters voor Rechters issued a further Statemen on the actions of the Government of Malawi against the Chief Justice and Judiciary of Malawi

On 9 June, the CMJA, CLEA, CLA and Rechters voor Rechters (Judges for Judges) issued a Statement on the Threats against the Judiciary in Malawi

April 2020
On 6 April, the CMJA President issued a Letter to Members in relation to the COVID 19 pandemic. This is available on the Membership Area of the website.

The CMJA joined other international legal and judicial organisations in highlighting key international human rights issues relating to the COVID 19 pandemic at a virtual meeitng of the UN Human Rights Council on 9 April 2020. The submissions were presented on our behalf by CIVICUS, ISHR and Forum Asia. The ICJ has published the statements on its website at: https://www.icj.org/covid19council/

February 2020
The CMJA together with the Commonealth Legal Education Association and the Commonwealth Lawyers Assoication issued a Statement on the Threats Against the Malawi Judiciary following the decision of the Constitutional Court in February 2020 annul the Presidential Elections of May 2020

August 2019
The CMJA, together with the International Bar Association Human Rights Institute, the International Commission of Jurists, Judges for Judges, The Southern African Litigation Centre, Lawyers Watch Canada and the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, issued a Statement on 5 August on the proposed Changes to the Constitution of Zambia which could affect the independence of the Judiciary in Zambia

February 2019
The CMJA and Judicial College of England and Wales together with the Gambian Judicial Training and Research Institute organised a Training of Magistratres in Banjul with the support of UKAID and Role UK. The Conference was opened by the Hon. Chief Justice, Justice Hassan Jallow. and the CMJA Secretary General spoke at the Opening. They also organised an Traiining of Trainers workshop and a workshop on Sentencing Guidelines.

January 2019
CLA, CLEA, and CMJA issues A Statement regariding the situation of the Chief Justice of Nigeria. Click here for Statement

November 2018
CLA, CLEA and CMJA issues Statement on threat to Judges and Lawyers in Asia Bibi's case in Pakistan. Click here for Statement

September 2018
CMJA issues a Statement on the Suspension of the Chief Justice of Lesotho. Click here for the Statement

CMJA General Assembly, meeting in Brisbane on 13 September adopts "THE BRISBANE DECLARATION ON THE INDEPENDENCE AND INTEGRITY OF JUDICIAL OFFICERS OF THE LOWER COURTS"

May 2018
CLA, CLEA and CMJA issue a Statement in Support of the Chief Justice of Lesotho. Click here for the Statement.

See RECENT DEVELOPMENTS (BELOW) FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Previous reports on activities: Click here