MINIJUST convoke adoption of technology to enhance access to justice

He encourages hearing about the focus on using innovation and technology to facilitate broader access to justice in Rwanda. Instead of solely relying on lawyers during the fourth industrial revolution, marked by developments such as AI and the Internet of Things, it's important to empower citizens to achieve greater access to justice through technology and innovation.

Minister Ugirashebuja was impressed to hear about Rwanda's strides in utilizing technology to bolster access to justice, at the African Law and Tech Network Summit 2024. The Integrated Electronic Management System (IEMS), launched in 2016 and currently undergoing upgrades to keep pace with technological advancements, streamlines processes across the justice sector, from case investigation to execution of judgments, fostering transparency and efficiency. 

Additionally, the Mediators Management Information System is another noteworthy innovation highlighted by Ugirashebuja that facilitates the tracking of information and decisions, promoting accessibility and accountability in the justice system. 

Exciting to hear about promising innovations across Africa, such as a legal question-answering robot in Uganda, which can deepen technology's impact on access to justice. Minister Ugirashebuja stressed the essential to equip legal professionals and the new generation with the necessary skills, including complex problem-solving, creativity, emotional intelligence, and a service-oriented mindset, to thrive in this evolving landscape.

Florida Kabasinga, founder and Executive Director of CERTA Foundation, encourages reading about the positive remarks at the African Law and Tech Network Summit 2024 held in Kigali. She commended the meeting of legal and tech professionals and emphasized the complementary nature of these fields in driving societal progress. 

Kabasinga highlighted Rwanda's pioneering efforts in integrating technology into legal processes and underscored the importance of fostering an innovation-friendly ecosystem to support startups and initiatives in this realm. This is crucial for creating a sustainable and thriving ecosystem that can lead to greater access to justice for all.

Moise Nkundabarashi, President of the Rwanda Bar Association (BAR), recognized the potential of technology in the legal sector.

While acknowledging some challenges with adapting to digital platforms, Nkundabarashi agreed that it's important to embrace technological advancements to maximize the benefits for the legal sector. Addressing concerns around monitoring and data security will be crucial in this process, overall, Nkundabarashi believed technology can play a transformative role in improving access to justice and streamlining legal processes.