Justice ministry on track with legislative reforms: Dausab

The Ministry of Justice, through the Directorate of Legislative Drafting and the Office of the Attorney General, continues to make progress regarding the legislative reforms in Namibia, Minister Yvonne Dausab has said.

During her briefing at the Government Communication Centre on Monday, Dausab said the ministry has enabled the passing of 12 Bills through Parliament this year to address shortcomings in the ability to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.

She said the ministry further ensured that the Magistrate’s Court and High Court Amendment Bills were finalised, tabled, and approved during the November session of the National Assembly.

Dausab noted that the two legislations will make courts more accessible, given that more people will be able to take their cases in the districts they live in.

She said they will further safeguard against repossession of primary homes through improved text in both the magistrate and high court amendments legislations.

Towards the end of last year, the ministry also enabled the passing of the Combatting of Domestic Violence and

Combatting of Rape Bills.
Dausab further reports that the ministry has completed the drafting of several pieces of legislation that will be tabled in the National Assembly next year. These include the Ombudsman Bill, the Divorce Bill, the Lands Bill, the Civil Registration Bill, and the Marriage Bill.

“The Cabinet Committee on Legislation, which is administered and chaired by the Ministry of Justice, considered a combined total of 21 Bills, of which 20 were approved in over 21 sightings this year.

“The ministries covered were Justice; Finance; Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security; Industrialisation and Trade; Urban and Rural Development, and Works and Transport,” she said.

During his address at the opening of the legal year, President Hage Geingob urged the justice ministry and the judiciary to urgently address the need for improved accessibility to legal services for persons with disabilities.

As a result, Minister Dausab said the ministry has successfully launched its customer service charters in seven main local languages and the braille language for persons with visual disabilities.

“These charters set out the key functions of the ministry and its promises to its customers. The other aspects pertaining to how to make law and courts more accessible to persons with disabilities are under review,” she said.

(NAMPA)
AT/PS/AS
(NAMPA)