LocationsMozambique’s First Justice Congress Concludes with Landmark Pact to Drive Justice Sector Reform Over the Next 20 Years
July 9, 2026
Maputo, Mozambique – Mozambique has reached a historic milestone in its efforts to strengthen democratic governance and the rule of law with the successful conclusion of the country’s first-ever Justice Congress, culminating in the signing of the Pact for Justice and the Rule of Law 2026–2046. The agreement establishes a shared vision for transformative justice sector reforms over the next two decades and will serve as a key contribution to the ongoing Inclusive National Dialogue process.
Held in Maputo from 10 to 12 June, the Congress was jointly organized by the Ministry of Justice, Constitutional and Religious Affairs and the Technical Commission for the Materialization of the Political Commitment for an Inclusive National Dialogue (COTE), with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The event brought together representatives from the executive, legislative and judicial branches, political parties, civil society organizations, academia, legal professionals, development partners and international experts to identify challenges and build consensus around structural reforms for Mozambique’s justice system.
Under the theme “Justice as the Foundation of the Democratic State: Power, Independence and Integrity – A Structural Contribution to the Inclusive National Dialogue,” the Congress created an unprecedented platform for dialogue among key stakeholders, reinforcing the central role of justice in promoting peace, social cohesion and sustainable development.
Opening the Congress, President of the Republic Daniel Francisco Chapo stressed that inclusive peace and genuine national reconciliation cannot be achieved without public confidence in institutions, placing justice sector reform at the centre of Mozambique’s national dialogue agenda. The President of COTE, Professor Edson Macuácua, described the event as a landmark achievement for having brought together, for the first time, representatives of the executive, legislative and judicial branches alongside diverse segments of society to collectively debate the future of justice in the country.
High-level roundtables, plenary discussions and technical parallel sessions
Throughout the three-day event, participants engaged in high-level roundtables, plenary discussions and technical parallel sessions focused on key reform areas. Discussions addressed topics such as digital transformation and technological modernization of the justice sector, electoral administration architecture, revision of foundational justice laws, institutional reforms and the financial and administrative independence of the judiciary. These exchanges generated recommendations and consensus around reforms aimed at making justice services more efficient, transparent, accessible and responsive to citizens’ needs.
The Congress concluded with the official signing of the Pact for Justice and the Rule of Law 2026–2046 by key institutions of the justice sector, including the Supreme Court, the Administrative Court, the Office of the Attorney-General, the Ministry of Justice, Constitutional and Religious Affairs, the Ministry of the Interior and the Mozambican Bar Association. The Pact outlines a long-term framework for reform organized around six strategic pillars and identifies priorities ranging from judicial independence and institutional modernization to strengthened governance and accountability mechanisms. To ensure effective implementation and oversight, the Pact establishes an Inter-Institutional Monitoring Committee, periodic monitoring reports, a biennial Justice Sector Forum, independent impact assessments, a digital transparency platform and a dedicated Commission for Justice and Law Reform supported by a specialized technical unit. These mechanisms are intended to promote accountability, sustain momentum and ensure that reforms deliver tangible results for citizens.
UNDP’s support to the Congress reflects its longstanding partnership with Mozambique in advancing democratic governance, strengthening institutions and promoting access to justice. Over the years, UNDP has worked closely with government institutions, the judiciary, civil society and development partners to support reforms that promote transparency, accountability, citizen participation and institutional effectiveness. Through its governance programming, UNDP has contributed to decentralization processes, digital transformation initiatives, civic engagement platforms and institutional capacity development, helping reinforce the relationship between citizens and the State.
As highlighted during the Congress, UNDP views justice as a fundamental public good and an essential pillar for sustainable development. Speaking on behalf of the organization, UNDP Resident Representative Edo Stork reaffirmed UNDP’s commitment to continue supporting Mozambique’s justice reform journey and emphasized the importance of ensuring that women, youth, persons with disabilities and other marginalized groups are placed at the centre of all future reforms. He noted that meaningful inclusion is critical for building a justice system that is responsive, equitable and trusted by all citizens.
This support aligns with UNDP Mozambique’s forthcoming Country Programme Document (2027–2030), which identifies Strengthening Institutions, Peace and Inclusive Governance as a strategic priority. The programme recognizes that stronger institutions, improved access to justice and enhanced civic participation are essential for reinforcing the social contract and advancing inclusive development. It positions UNDP as a trusted partner in supporting national dialogue processes, institutional reforms, human rights protection, justice sector modernization and digital transformation across public institutions.
Under this framework, UNDP will continue working with justice, human rights and governance institutions to improve accessibility, efficiency and accountability through digitalization, strengthened service delivery systems, legal assistance mechanisms and alternative dispute resolution approaches. Particular attention will be given to women, young people, displaced populations and other vulnerable groups who often face barriers in accessing justice.
The organization’s long-term vision is to help Mozambique build capable, transparent and inclusive institutions that can effectively uphold rights, deliver services and promote social cohesion. In this context, the Pact for Justice and the Rule of Law represents not only a roadmap for justice reform but also an important opportunity to strengthen democratic governance and accelerate national development outcomes.
Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals
The outcomes of the First Justice Congress and the commitments contained in the Pact contribute directly to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. By promoting judicial reform, institutional integrity, transparency, accountability and equitable access to justice, the process reinforces foundations for peaceful and inclusive societies. The reform agenda also advances SDG 5: Gender Equality through efforts to ensure that justice institutions become more responsive to the needs of women and girls and that women’s perspectives are meaningfully integrated into future reforms and decision-making processes. UNDP has consistently advocated for gender-responsive governance and justice systems as a critical component of inclusive development.
In this context, to ensure these structural reforms leave no one behind, the Pact should treat gender equality, diversity and inclusion not merely as a standalone policy but as a binding requirement embedded across all its strategic pillars. Operationalizing this vision involves establishing an inter-institutional working group to develop a fully funded Gender Equality and Inclusion Plan, setting measurable targets for women's leadership and creating gender-responsive services such as specialized domestic violence sections. Furthermore, the framework mandates the integration of sex-disaggregated data into new digital platforms and explicitly empowers electoral courts to protect women's political participation against violence and discrimination. By anchoring these safeguards directly into the governance, financing and modernization architecture of the justice sector, the agreement guarantees a transformative approach that genuinely reflects the diversity of Mozambican society and delivers equitable, survivor-centred justice for all citizens.
By prioritizing access to justice for marginalized communities, including persons with disabilities, youth, rural populations and conflict-affected groups, the Pact further contributes to SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities and supports the principle of leaving no one behind. The collaborative nature of the Congress—bringing together government institutions, the judiciary, civil society, academia, political actors, development partners and the United Nations system—also exemplifies the spirit of SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, demonstrating how inclusive partnerships can help drive nationally owned reform processes and sustainable solutions.
As Mozambique moves into the implementation phase of the Pact, UNDP remains committed to supporting nationally led efforts that strengthen the rule of law, expand access to justice and build institutions that are inclusive, effective and accountable. The Pact will now be submitted to COTE as part of the Inclusive National Dialogue process, helping shape future reform proposals and contributing to a more peaceful, democratic and prosperous Mozambique.