13 January 2022: Today saw the conclusion of three days of judicial trainings, conducted for the Maldives Judiciary by the United Nations Development Programme in the Maldives with the generous support of the United Kingdom. 

The 'Judicial Curriculum Training Programme' was conducted by Judge Malcolm Simmons, and included components such as Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Ethics and Judicial Conduct, Judicial Case Management and Legal Reasoning. 

Over the years, UNDP together with partners, has been supporting judicial reform and strengthening capacity of the judiciary through various training and capacity building programmes. 

With the aims to better inform such interventions, UNDP supported a comprehensive Training Needs Assessment (TNA) followed by the formulation of revised Judicial Training Curriculum for the Judicial Academy (JA) in the year 2020.

The TNA re-emphasized the need for continuing the judicial education process inclusive of new judge transition, and ongoing development. The TNA also highlighted the need to go beyond just the knowledge of substantive law, to take a more holistic approach to trainings such that it enhances the capacity of judges to perform their judicial responsibilities fairly, correctly, and efficiently.

Speaking at the concluding ceremony,  UNDP Resident Representative to the Maldive, Enrico Gaveglia emphasized the importance of judicial education in the administration and dispensation of justice, and stated that it not only ensures fair and equitable justice for all, but also helps build public confidence in the system.