Department of Judicial Affairs and Alternative Dispute Resolution  

Department of Judicial Affairs and Alternative Dispute Resolution  

The following are the functions of the Department of Judicial Affairs and Alternative Dispute Resolution: –

  • Implementation of policies and laws by the judiciary organs of Puntland
  • Access to justice by the civil society in Puntland up village and urban level
  • Improving the coordination and collaboration between all the justice stakeholders
  • Enforcement of alternative dispute solutions in all the communities including by the traditional norms and conflict resolutions
  • Development of the requirement and standards from the public notaries and ensuring the application of those standards
  • Coordinate the formulation of the policies, framework and programs to support the judicial affairs, alternative dispute resolutions and notary in PSS
  • Preparation and implementation of the five (5) year strategic plan and budget for the department.
  • Preparation and implementation of a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation system and tools for the Department
  • Preparation and implementation of the capacity development for all staff based on the needs assessment and in-line with Puntland Civil Service Commission (PCSC) guidelines and requirements.
  • Preparation of the annual financial estimates in consultation with the heads of sections

The department is divided into three sections which include the Judicial Affairs, Alternative Dispute Resolution and Notary Sections. The following table provides the functions for each of the sections:

 

SECTIONS FUNCTIONS
1 Judicial Affairs Section ·  Review of policies, procedures, guidelines and regulations for the Judicial Affairs Section

·  Development of judicial affairs framework and programs supporting the operations of the Judicial Affairs Section

·  Implementation of policies, framework and programs for the Judicial Affairs Section

·  Monitor the implementation of Judiciary policies, rules, guidelines and regulations in Puntland

·  Ensure establishment and spread of the judicial offices, courts and Office of Attorney General in all districts of PSS to enhance access to justice by all

·  Implementation of the five (5) year strategic plan and budget in the Judicial Affairs Section

·  Undertake law and policies reforms including amending the penal code and criminal procedures, restructuring justice institutions, coordinating Islamic, formal and customary (XEER) laws.

·  Support and facilitate the training programs for the judges, prosecutors, lawyers, and court registrars.

·  Strengthen judicial training facilities including establishing judicial training center, increasing, equipping, and training the skills of Puntland Custodial Corps (PCCs), rehabilitating and constructing courts and office of Attorney General (AG)

·  Collaboration with the institutions of higher learning and the Puntland Civil Service Institute (CSI) for purposes of offering appropriate training on judicial affairs

·  Coordination of the inter-ministerial and sectional collaboration and cooperation on judicial affairs

 
2 Alternative Dispute Resolution Section ·         Review of policies, procedures, guidelines and regulations for the Alternative Dispute Resolution Section

·         Development of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) framework and programs

·         Implementation of policies, framework and programs for the ADR in PSS

·         Establish and spread out the community dispute resolution sites in in all districts of PSS

·         Prepare an ADR manual for the dispute resolution sites.

·         Develop and design Mediation rules for the dispute resolution sites

·         Develop ADR case identification guidelines.

·         Develop a comprehensive referral scheme case intake and case management policy

·         Develop Monitoring and evaluation guidelines for the dispute resolution sites

·         Conduct specialized trainings for the dispute resolution sites staff

·         Develop post ADR guidelines for the management of the outcomes

·         Implementation of the five (5) year strategic plan and budget in the Judicial Affairs Section
3 Notary Section ·  Review of policies, procedures, guidelines and regulations for notary in PSS

·  Ensure the legislation and implementation of the law, policies, procedures, guidelines and regulations for notary in PSS

·  Ensure implementation and application of the standards required from the public notaries

·  Monitor the implementation of notary law, policies, rules, guidelines and regulations in PSS

·  Implementation of the five (5) year strategic plan and budget in the Notary Section

·  Ensure proper verification, authentication, certification and attesting of any instrument as required under the law.

·  Supervision of the administration of oath and execution of affidavit from any person in PSS.

·  Translation and verification of the translation of any document from one language into another

·  Act as commissioner to record evidence in any civil or criminal trial if so directed by the court or authority required under the law.

·  Act as arbitrator, mediator, or conciliator if so required within the law