Capacity Building

Strengthening of customer-focused and gender-responsive court and judicial service in the CARICOM region.

Court excellence requires strong, creative and authentic leaders, to create a sustainable working environment and build the institution, given prevailing trends.

Engagement of judicial officers and court staff in training related to gender responsive administration and adjudication will enable a greater understanding of the relationship between gender issues, law and how gender stereotypes influence the administration of justice, access to justice and the rule of law. The delivery of judicial education that results in gender-responsive administration, adjudication, court services and court protocols requires institutional capacity development within the regional training institutions.

Training of judges and court officers will also broaden knowledge of judges and magistrates of international commitments to advance gender equality, non-discrimination, and the empowerment of women; and the relationship between international and domestic law. In so doing, the training will highlight the role of judges and magistrates in reshaping legal perspectives.

Training programmes will provide a deeper understanding of the meaning of gender equality and how it applies in concrete situations that arise in adjudication as well as strengthen understanding of the nature, causes and consequences of gender-based violence in the context of the delivery and administration of justice.

Training related to gender responsive judicial administration will highlight the role of court administrators in eliminating gender bias in courts and providing easier access to the courts for women, vulnerable groups,  as well as providing easier access for men who have suffered sexual or domestic violence. It will also enable administrators to identify bottlenecks in case flow management which delay and affect the administration of justice in cases of gender-based violence (GBV) including issues related to the protection of GBV survivors, particularly children within court proceedings and the removal of discrimination at every stage of the judicial process.