Excellencies, Honourable Ministers, Distinguished Judges, Esteemed Development Partners, Civil Society Representatives, Colleagues, and Friends,

It is a great honour to join you today at the opening of Somalia’s First Annual Justice Sector Conference. 

On behalf of the UNDP and the United Nations family, I extend my warmest greetings and sincere appreciation to the Federal Government of Somalia, Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs for convening this landmark event.

Today marks another significant milestone in Somalia’s journey toward a more just, inclusive, and accountable society. The theme of this conference—“Justice for all”—captures both the urgency and the promise of this moment.

Somalia’s justice sector stands at a critical juncture. 

In recent years, we have witnessed important progress: new legislation, strengthened institutions, and growing collaboration between the government, civil society, international partners and most importantly, between the formal and traditional justice sector mechanisms.

The First Justice Sector Strategy that was launched at the end of last year was the result of unprecedented participation and an impressive effort of the justice sector, including traditional and religious leaders, CSOs and academia.

The ongoing UNTMIS transition underscores the importance of national ownership and leadership in driving justice sector reforms. 

Yet, we all know there is still much to be done and significant challenges remain—full reform of the constitutional and legislative framework, limited access to justice for the most vulnerable, underfunded institutions, and remaining gaps in public trust. 

This conference is also a call to action. It is a platform for open dialogue, shared learning, and consensus-building. 

Together, we must accelerate legal and institutional reforms that reflect Somalia’s traditional and contemporary values and align with the international human rights standards that Somalia has committed to uphold. 

We must expand access to justice—especially for women, children, internally displaced persons, persons with disabilities, and marginalized communities—so that no one is left behind. 

Advancing gender justice and ensuring equal access to legal aid and protection are not only moral imperatives but also essential for sustainable peace and development. 

I seize this opportunity to commend the federal government and justice sector on the recent adoption of the law against female genital mutilation, which reflects on Somalia’s commitment on advancing gender justice. 

Another essential issue is about ensuring Sustainable financing and judicial independence. We must explore innovative ways to increase mobilization of domestic resources, strengthen accountability, and ensure that justice institutions have the capacity and integrity to serve all Somalis. 

Public engagement and transparency must be at the heart of our efforts, so that citizens can participate in shaping the justice system and holding it to account. 

Concurrently, it must be acknowledged that Somalia’s centuries-old traditional dispute-resolution mechanisms are an important asset that we should all support. We should create pathways that allow the two systems to draw on each other’s strengths and serve communities more effectively.

The United Nations remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting Somalia’s justice sector transformation. We are dedicated to working alongside all stakeholders—government, judiciary, civil society, development partners, and communities—to advance the priorities set out in the Justice Sector Strategy and to help build a resilient, credible, and transparent justice system. 

I take this opportunity to acknowledge and express our sincere gratitude to our International Partners and donors for their invaluable support, particularly the European Union, the Netherlands and the Somalia Joint Fund. 

Let us use this conference to forge new partnerships, share innovative solutions, and reaffirm our shared commitment to the rule of law, gender equality, human rights, and sustainable peace. The journey ahead will not be easy, but together, we can lay the foundations for a justice system that truly serves the people of Somalia.

Thank you, and I wish you all a productive and inspiring conference. 
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These remarks were delivered by Mr. Lionel Laurens, Resident Representative for UNDP in Somalia, at the opening of Somalia's first Annual Justice Sector Conference in Mogadishu on 22 November 2025. UNDP has been supporting Somalia in the justice sector reform through the Joint Justice and Corrections Programme (JJCP) funded by European Union and the Netherlands through the Somali Joint Fund (SJF). The event was organized by Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs with the support of JJCP. Read more about the programme.