Baseline Study Report
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Informed Investment in Somaliland’s Justice Sector Baseline Study Report 31 July 2017 Mansoor Area Hargeisa, Somaliland | +252 (0) 633 751063 +252 279 940 957 P.O. Box 691-00621 Nairobi, Kenya | +254 (0) 20 4180 222 +254 (0) 713 773 420 www.thehorizoninstitute.org | [email protected] Horizon Institute seeks to provide support and expertise to communities transitioning from fragility and underdevelopment to resilience, stability and self-reliance. Horizon assists governments, the private sector, and institutions in the not-for-profit sector to create and take advantage of development and capacity building opportunities by applying a collaborative approach that brings together national and international expertise. Horizon achieves this by employing both national and international experts in the rule of law, security, governance and public sector development who are adept at harnessing local knowledge in fragile and conflict-affected states. The extensive experience of our staff working on the ground in developing countries informs our unique, collaborative approach to the design, implementation, management and evaluation of international development assistance programs and national capacity building projects. At the centre of all aspects of Horizon’s work is a strong commitment to the advancement of human rights and the rule of law. We are also dedicated to ensuring that local knowledge and opinions take precedent in the design and implementation of the international development assistance programs we manage. Horizon believes that prioritising a commitment to human rights and leveraging community expertise strengthens the functioning, capacity and service delivery of governments and institutions in the private and not-for-profit sectors, and moves countries from fragility to stability. Horizon’s reports and discussion papers explore issues identified through our work. They are intended to stimulate debate among stakeholders, the public and donors and promote government policies based on respect for human rights, strengthening institutions and encouraging self-reliance. Founded in 2013, Horizon’s portfolio has included managing a justice sector project in Somaliland, funded by the Department for International Development (DFID), and work on civil service reform and revenue generation in Somaliland funded jointly by DFID and DANIDA. The Baseline Study Report on Informed Investment in Somaliland’s Justice Sector was funded by DFID. For more information, visit us online at www.thehorizoninstitute.org or contact us at [email protected]. Horizon Institute would like to express its sincere appreciation to Somaliland’s justice sector institutions, especially the Chief Justice and the judiciary, who devoted considerable time and energy to facilitating the field research for this report. Publication of this baseline study, Informed Investment in Somaliland’s Justice Sector, was made possible because of the involvement of Somaliland’s justice sector institutions, namely the judiciary, Ministry of Justice, Attorney Generals’ Office and the Custodial Corps. Horizon would also like to thank the members of the public, legal aid providers, private lawyers, human rights defenders and members of parliament who shared their experiences and insights with Horizon’s researchers. Horizon is immensely grateful to the Department for International Development (DFID) for making this research possible through their generous support. ACRONYMS AG Attorney General AGO Attorney General’s Office CID Criminal Investigations Department CJ Chief Justice CPC Criminal Procedure Code DAG Deputy Attorney General DFID Department for International Development HJC High Judicial Council HoR House of Representatives HRC Human Rights Centre LDT Land Dispute Tribunal LLEC Lawyers Licensing and Ethics Committee MoF Ministry of Finance MoJ Ministry of Justice NHRC National Human Rights Commission PC Penal Code PD Public Defender PDU Professional Development Unit SC Supreme Court SGBV Sexual and Gender-Based Violence SWLA Somaliland Women’s Lawyers Association SOLLA Somaliland Lawyers Association UNDP United Nations Development Program TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................................................................... 2 METHODOLOGY .................................................................................................................. 7 Chapter 1 ................................................................................................................................ 10 THE FORMAL COURTS ..................................................................................................... 10 THE SUPREME COURT .............................................................................................................. 10 THE LOWER COURTS ................................................................................................................ 12 Demand for Court Services ....................................................................................................... 12 Budget Allocation and Management ........................................................................................ 14 Operational and Material Resources ........................................................................................ 15 Workforce ................................................................................................................................... 16 Court Buildings ........................................................................................................................... 19 Court Performance ..................................................................................................................... 21 Overall Trends ............................................................................................................................ 28 FACTORS UNDERLYING FINDINGS ...................................................................................... 28 Weak Judicial Administration .................................................................................................. 31 Court Facilities Are Not Adequate or Safe .............................................................................. 37 Chief Justice’s Reforms ............................................................................................................. 37 Chapter 2 ................................................................................................................................ 40 ACCESS TO JUSTICE ......................................................................................................... 40 MOBILE COURTS, LEGAL AID AND PUBLIC DEFENDERS .................................... 40 MOBILE COURTS ........................................................................................................................ 40 Demand for Mobile Court Services .......................................................................................... 40 Budget and Operational Resources .......................................................................................... 42 Mobile Court Workforce ........................................................................................................... 43 Mobile Court Performance ........................................................................................................ 44 Overall Trends ............................................................................................................................ 45 FACTORS UNDERLYING FINDINGS ON MOBILE COURTS ............................................ 46 Low Public Awareness of Mobile Court Services .................................................................... 46 Mobile Court Team Composition ............................................................................................. 46 Case Selection and Determination of Location ........................................................................ 47 Adjudication of Cases ................................................................................................................ 47 Weak Judicial Administration of Mobile Courts .................................................................... 48 Lack of Funding Constrains Reach of Mobile Court Services ............................................... 50 PUBLIC DEFENDERS .................................................................................................................. 50 FACTORS UNDERLYING FINDINGS ON PUBLIC DEFENDERS ...................................... 51 LEGAL AID .................................................................................................................................... 52 FACTORS UNDERLYING FINDINGS ON LEGAL AID ........................................................ 53 Chapter 3 ................................................................................................................................ 55 THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE ......................................................................... 55 Locations .......................................................................................................................................... 55 Demand for AGOs .......................................................................................................................... 55 Budget Allocation and Management