The new Court of Appeal in Bamako opened on November 5, 2005, a result of cooperation between Canada and Mali.

In 1998, Mali launched a major effort to offer women and men in Mali an effective, accessible justice system that they can trust. This process must naturally involve judges and the legal profession, but also the public at large. This includes women’s and youth groups, unions, and the media. “We need to educate the public,” Mr. Diallo stresses.

The ambitious reform process covers a range of aspects, from human resources to infrastructure. This range includes showing respect for human rights and combating corruption. “Justice certainly requires infrastructure,” Mr. Diallo admits, “but justice reform must first happen in the minds and attitudes of Malians—both men and women.”

However, what was needed for reform was far beyond Mali’s capacities. In 1991, Mali began a democratization process, marked by holding regular, free elections. Yet the democratic institutions put in place remain fragile, despite the government’s express political will.

Mali’s justice system especially faces institutional and organizational obstacles. These obstacles limit the independence of judicial bodies. They also limit access to the courts. Resources allocated to the justice system represent only 0.9 percent of the government’s budget. This is not enough.

Canada has thus supported the plan to reform Mali’s justice system from the start. This will create the conditions needed for justice to be done with the support of all stakeholders concerned. Canada has even become the lead donor on justice issues. With the GENIVAR/M3E Consortium –University of Ottawa, through the Ten-Year Justice Development Program Support Project, CIDA is helping to build the coordination unit’s capacities to execute PRODEJ. CIDA is also helping to build civil society’s capacity to play an active role in a reform that reflects its ideals of integrity, fairness, and accessibility.

Learn more about the reform of Mali’s justice system (in French only).