Strengthening Judicial Training: Highlights from AJTN’s 2024 Webinars
In 2024, the African Judicial Training Network (AJTN) held three pivotal webinars aimed at reinforcing the skills and capacity of African judicial officers. These webinars reflected AJTN’s core mission of promoting excellence in judicial training and equipping judicial officers with the tools needed to uphold the rule of law in complex and challenging contexts. Covering judicial ethics, the challenges of judging during election years, and the courage required to navigate difficult cases, the sessions provided valuable insights and a platform for peer learning and exchange.
Webinar one: Judicial Ethics and Training Feedback
The first webinar, held on 31 July 2024, focused on the recently launched Judicial Ethics: A Training Manual for African Jurisdictions. This 90-minute session gathered feedback from pilot training sessions conducted in Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Tanzania. Justice Mathilda Twomey-Woods opened the session with an overview of the manual and reflected on the importance of establishing ethical consistency in judicial training.
Panelists Mademba Gueye, Jacob Soung, and Paul Kihwelo shared insights from the pilot sessions held in their respective countries. Their reflections highlighted both the successes and challenges of implementing the ethics training, underlining the need for consistent follow-up and regional adaptation of the training material.
The session concluded with a moderated discussion where audience members had the opportunity to engage with the panelists, providing feedback on the manual and offering suggestions for improving future training.
Webinar two: Judging in an Election Year
The second webinar, “Judging in an Election Year,” addressed the unique pressures and responsibilities faced by judges during election periods. With over 100 countries holding elections in 2024, the role of the judiciary in ensuring free and fair electoral processes was a timely and critical topic.
Distinguished panelists Dr. Chifundo Kachale, Judge Dr. Dhaya Pillay, and Justice Elisa Samuel Boerekamp discussed the legal complexities of election-related cases, the potential for political pressure, and the need for impartiality. The session explored the judicial training necessary to equip judges to manage these challenges effectively, particularly when dealing with politically charged cases.
Audience members engaged in a lively discussion, raising questions about how to balance legal precedent with the political realities of election-related disputes. The panelists underscored the importance of building judicial resilience and providing judges with ongoing support and training to navigate these complex issues.
Webinar three: Courage in Judicial Work
The third webinar, “It Takes Courage – Some Personal Reflections on Tough Times,” explored the personal and professional courage required of judges in challenging environments. Justice Mavedzenge from the Judicial Institute for Africa (JIFA) and the African Judges and Jurists Forum moderated the session, which featured insights from Judge Thomas Masuku and Justice Oagile Dingake.
The panelists shared their experiences of dealing with politically sensitive cases, public scrutiny, and threats to judicial independence. The discussion highlighted the emotional toll of such cases and the internal conflict judges often face when balancing legal principles with public pressure.
The session reinforced the need for strong peer support networks and the importance of building a judicial culture where courage and integrity are valued and protected. The moderated Q&A allowed participants to engage directly with the panelists, sharing their own experiences and seeking guidance on managing professional challenges.
Why continued training matters
Training is not just about developing technical skills – it’s about strengthening the foundations of judicial independence and integrity. Judges are often called upon to make decisions that affect political stability, human rights, and the rule of law. Ensuring that they have the knowledge, confidence, and moral courage to navigate these challenges is essential for maintaining public trust in the judiciary.
AJTN’s commitment to judicial training is built on several key goals:
- Supporting the development of robust judicial training structures across Africa.
- Promoting tailored training programmes that reflect the specific realities of African legal systems.
- Facilitating the exchange of best practices among judicial officers.
- Designing standardised judicial training tools and resources.
- Strengthening the capacity of judicial training institutions.
- Compiling a network of expert resource persons to enhance training delivery.
- Promoting research and publication in legal and judicial matters.
- Cooperating with regional and international partners to align training efforts.
The 2024 webinars highlighted the importance of these goals in action. By addressing real-world challenges and fostering dialogue among judicial officers, AJTN is not only improving individual skills but also strengthening the integrity and resilience of judicial systems across the continent.
Looking ahead
Building on the success of these sessions, AJTN has announced that five additional webinars will take place in 2025. These will cover critical topics such as judicial independence, strategic litigation, and sentencing guidelines – reflecting the evolving needs of African judiciaries.
As Justice Teliko, the new Chair of AJTN, as of 2025, stated:
“Our mission to promote excellence in the training of judicial officers is more relevant than ever. The future of justice on our continent depends largely on the commitment of our training institutions to produce competent judicial officers with integrity and respect for the fundamental principles of justice.”
Through strategic training and peer collaboration, AJTN remains committed to building a fairer, more transparent, and more effective judicial system across Africa.
AJTN: Strengthening judicial systems across Africa – one network, one vision.
Contact:
Vanja Karth
JIFA: Secretariat of the AJTN
jifa@uct.ac.za
