Following the successful conference held in Cardiff in September 2023, the Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association (CMJA) is hosting its annual conference from the 8th – 12th September 2024 in Kigali Rwanda on the theme “Environmental Justice”.

The aims and objectives of the CMJA conference is

• to promote better understanding amongst judicial officers of all ranks and from all parts of the Commonwealth of judicial independence issues and to explore the approach to those issues in different parts of the Commonwealth;
• to promote greater awareness amongst the magistrates and judges of the Commonwealth, of international treaties and law relating to the development and access to justice, and to consider the practical application of that body of law; and
• to enhance networking within the Commonwealth Magistrates’ and Judges’ Association on judicial developments.

The Chief Justice of Papua New Guinea Sir Gibbs Salika GCL KBE CSM OBE is currently attending the CMJA conference which plays host to members of judiciaries in all the Commonwealth jurisdictions.

Judges attending the CMJA conference along with Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika GCL KBE CSM OBE include Deputy Chief Justice Ambeng Kandakasi CBE, Justice Iova Geita and Justice John Carey.

Chief Justice Salika spoke during Session 6, Plenary Panel Session at the conference on the topic “Ensuring our Courts can handle Dispute about the Environment”.

Rwanda is the current chair of the Commonwealth Heads of State and Government, and the judiciary of Rwanda is a member of the Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association.

Host Chief Justice of Rwanda, Hon Dr. Faustin Ntezilyayo, said the theme for the CMJA conference “Environmental Justice” will enable the participants to explore how environmental justice can be ensured for all individuals, providing equal access to a healthy and safe environment.

“It will also allow us to probe the right to a healthy environment, the protection of vulnerable populations, the promotion of sustainable development, and the addressing of systemic inequalities in environmental decision-making and resource allocation,” he stated.

The conference was divided into sessions which saw topics regarding the environment and the judiciary being discussed.