Tanzania: Bringing Justice to Refugees’ Doorstep in Tanzania’s Nyarugusu Camp

Access to justice is among the human rights that permits people regardless of their gender and social standing to be handled pretty. For refugees within the camps in Tanzania, entry to well timed justice, particularly for instances of gender-based violence (GBV) is crucial once they have restricted freedom of motion because of the nation’s encampment coverage.

In 2022, UNHCR and the Refugee Services Department within the Ministry of Home Affairs, in collaboration with Women’s Legal Aid Centre (WLAC) and Danish Refugee Council (DRC) established a cellular court docket as to deal with authorized points that have an effect on refugees and their Tanzanian hosts dwelling in and round Nyarugusu camp, north of the nation.

“Bringing the court system closer to the people in the camp has made justice more accessible and timelier. Refugees can now address their grievances without the burden of travel or delays, ensuring their rights are protected in even the most difficult circumstances,” says Immaculate Shali, Senior Resident Magistrate, Kasulu District Court in Kigoma.

In the cellular court docket, the process of submitting a case is straightforward. The case is reported to the police, then transferred to the National Prosecution Services (NPS) who file a case in a web-based court docket system on behalf of the United Republic of Tanzania, after which a Magistrate hears the case via the digital court docket system within the camp.

“The mobile court initiative is a transformative step in ensuring access to justice for refugees. It not only resolves disputes but restores dignity and hope in challenging circumstances. Through our partnership with UNHCR, we’re ensuring that no one is left without a voice, especially the most vulnerable,” says Mburalina D. Maira, DRC Legal Team Leader.

Currently, two magistrates who have been skilled on gender-based violence (GBV) points, together with on how to answer GBV instances, just about attend the cellular court docket. On common, the cellular court docket handles two to a few GBV instances per thirty days, whereas month-to-month stories are a lot increased . It takes six months to finalize a GBV case within the cellular court docket. However, for the tendering of bodily reveals in addition to for thepronouncement of judgement, they’re carried out bodily on the important court docket premises as per the court docket procedures. Survivors are supported by the Legal accomplice to attend these bodily court docket.

“The mobile court brings a quicker access to justice for GBV survivors especially women and girls mostly affected by GBV incidents in Nyarugusu Camp. It speeds up GBV cases through the virtual court system and addresses challenges faced by women and girls about fear of retaliation, reduced rate of survivor’s withdrawal of cases in courts and distance factor,” explains Rehema Peter Katyega, UNHCR Assistant GBV Officer.

The refugees discover the court docket helpful because it reduces boundaries equivalent to distance and value, supplies well timed justice, and protects their rights, as ladies and minors really feel safer reporting crimes equivalent to GBV. Also, it improves group confidence because the court docket is inside the neighborhood of the camp and it builds belief within the authorized system and empowers refugees to hunt redress for grievances.