SAP includes work to increase public confidence in judicial system

The government’s “Strategic Action Plan,” or SAP, comprises of plans to conduct an appraisal of all sitting judges by 2022.

The 439-paged action plan was launched by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, at a ceremony held at Dharubaaruge on Wednesday night.

While reforming the judiciary is one of the current administration’s key pledges, the ambitious SAP notes that judges will be appraised by 2022 and that a new revised curriculum will be implemented in all law schools by 2021.

According to the SAP, judges will have to publicize the financial records “at least once” by 2023.

It also promises the establishment of a juvenile detention and rehabilitation facility by 2021, as well to reduce the population density in all existing prisons (excluding new facilities) by 20 percent by the end of the current term and to increase the enrolment prisoners in rehabilitation programmes by 50 percent.

The government also plans reintegrate 50 percent of the prisoners and children that successfully completes the rehabilitation programme, back into society by 2023.

To further increase accountability of the judges and judicial actors, the SAP will review and amend the necessary legislation to take appropriate measure to enforce the code of conduct and disciplinary measures for judges, conduct a situational analysis and address sexual harassment issues within the judicial system, review and strengthen gift rules and conflict of interest rules within the judiciary, and establish an asset declaration regime for judges that takes into account disclosure of assets, business and activities outside the jurisdiction of Maldives and assets of judges’ spouses and children.

The SAP also plans to reform the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), by conducting a complete review of the composition of JSC and establishing a modern case management system within the commission.