Basseterre, St. Kitts – The Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs St. Kitts and Nevis, in collaboration with the UNDP Partnership of the Caribbean and the European Union on Justice (PACE Justice) Project, has launched a pivotal training workshop on ‘Restorative Justice, Criminal Mediation and Child Justice’. This initiative marks a significant milestone in the broader criminal justice reform agenda for St. Kitts and Nevis, aligning with the Commonwealth Declaration on Access to Justice and the Needham Point Declaration on Criminal Justice Reform.
This workshop, the PACE Justice Project, funded by the European Union and held from November 11th to 13th, forms a core component of a larger strategy aimed at system-wide reforms in the criminal justice sector, emphasising restorative justice and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. It underscores the commitment of St. Kitts and Nevis to implementing reforms that reduce case backlogs, enhance judicial efficiency, and promote fairer outcomes for all parties involved.
St. Kitts is one of the beneficiary countries of this regional training of the PACE Justice Project, which spans eight Caribbean countries (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Guyana, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago). The PACE Justice Project provides support along three output areas:
1. Enhanced Technology and Infrastructure
2. Stakeholder Empowerment and Capacity
3. Improved Processes, Procedures, and Coordination
This workshop reflects the national government’s broader commitment to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16 (SDG 16), which aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable institutions. The training is expected to empower stakeholders and promote innovative approaches that contribute to reducing the court case backlog, enhancing access to justice, and upholding the rule of law.
Participants from key justice sector entities, including the Mediation Department, Attorney General Chambers, Prison, Police, the Ministry of Social Development and Gender Affairs: Community Development, Probation, Counsellors, Youth Officers, etc., are engaged in interactive sessions covering:
– Principles of restorative justice and its application within the Caribbean context
– Best practices in child justice administration, including support for children in conflict with the law
– Effective criminal mediation techniques and strategies for conflict resolution
The training reflects a collaborative effort to pave the way for sustained improvements and a more responsive legal system in St. Kitts and Nevis.
For further information, please contact the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs, St. Kitts and Nevis.