At CSW70, a virtual side event showcased Malawi’s digital-justice leadership, with policymakers, judges and development partners highlighting how technology is expanding access to justice for vulnerable groups.
Malawi’s leadership in digital justice innovation was in focus during a virtual side event at the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), where policymakers, judicial leaders and development partners highlighted how technology is transforming access to justice for vulnerable groups.
The event, co-convened by United Nations Development Programme Malawi and the Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare, spotlighted two flagship initiatives: the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Digital Observatory Hub and the country’s expanding e-Courts system.
These digital tools are improving case reporting, accelerating justice delivery and strengthening coordination among institutions.
Speaking on behalf of the UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP’s Africa Regional Director, Evelyne Bamba commended Malawi’s progress, noting that while policies are essential, justice systems must also be accessible, responsive and trusted to be effective.
Malawi’s Minister of Gender, Mary Thom Navicha, described the country’s digital transition as a strategic response to longstanding barriers, including long distances to courts, delays in case handling, and challenges faced by survivors of gender-based violence.
She said: “Technology must be complemented by strong institutional capacity to deliver meaningful impact.”
Navicha emphasised the importance of collaboration in promoting legal literacy among women and girls as the country advances digital pathways to improve access to justice.
The SGBV Digital Observatory Hub, launched in 2021 with support from the European Union and UNDP and later expanded with backing from Iceland and Norway, now operates in 11 districts and has recorded over 17,000 cases.
The platform aggregates real-time data from community structures, law enforcement and the judiciary, enabling better tracking, referrals and policy decisions.
Meanwhile, the e-Courts system, introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, has significantly reduced travel costs for users, enabled remote testimonies and improved efficiency in case resolution.
In some districts, up to 88% of cases handled digitally have been concluded successfully, according to judicial officials.
Experts from Kenya and the UNDP AI for Development Hub also highlighted the importance of ethical technology use, data protection and survivor-centred system design, noting that Malawi’s approach offers valuable lessons for other countries.
Closing the session, Minister Navicha reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening collaboration across the justice sector, while UNDP pledged continued support to scale and institutionalise digital justice systems aligned with global human rights goals and gender equality priorities.
“Technology must be complemented by strong institutional capacity to deliver meaningful impact.”
Mary Thom Navicha
Malawi’s Minister of Gender
