BCI hosts Inter-University Conference on Access to Justice

The Commercial and Investment Bank (BCI) hosted, on November 4th and 5th, in its Auditorium in Maputo, the Inter-University Conference on Access to Justice, an initiative promoted by the Justice Observatory that brought together representatives from the Justice sector, academics, jurists and students from higher education institutions in a debate on the role of justice in the economic and social development of Mozambique.

Under the theme "Access to Justice as an Engine for Development: Challenges of Procedural Law," the conference featured, in its opening session, the presence of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Constitutional and Religious Affairs, Tuarique Abdala, the Ombudsman, Isaque Chande, and the Administrator of BCI, Fátima da Conceição, among other individuals.

On that occasion, Fátima da Conceição highlighted the importance of accessible, swift, and inclusive justice for sustainable development, emphasizing the relationship between the strength of institutions, citizen trust, and the creation of an environment conducive to investment and economic progress. "There is no sustainable economic and social development without strong, credible institutions that are close to the citizens," stated the Administrator, adding that the effective protection of rights, the swift resolution of conflicts, and institutional transparency are essential conditions for stimulating entrepreneurship, innovation, and collective prosperity.

Over the course of two days, the Conference provided a space for reflection and exchange of knowledge, through student presentations, lectures given by renowned figures, and debates on the challenges of Procedural Law, with a particular focus on ethics, integrity, and the effectiveness of the justice system.

One of the highlights was the academic competition "The Weaker Side in Civil Procedure," which tested the knowledge of students from participating higher education institutions in an exercise demonstrating skills, legal argumentation, and mastery of procedural matters.

At the closing session, the General Coordinator of the Justice Observatory, Venerando Carlos Mondlane, praised the quality of the presentations and the active participation of the students, highlighting the contribution of the debates to the identification of proposals for improving the Mozambican justice system.

Carlos Mondlane announced that the conclusions and recommendations resulting from the Conference will be systematized, published, and forwarded to the relevant institutions, including the legislature, for consideration and potential use in improving the justice system.

The official also highlighted the importance of ethics and integrity in the administration of justice, considering that the conduct of its actors and the credibility of judicial institutions have direct implications for citizens' trust and the country's economic development.

Addressing the students, whom he considered the true protagonists of the Conference, Carlos Mondlane highlighted the role of the new generations in transforming the justice system, advocating for their active involvement in research, production, and dissemination of legal knowledge.

By joining this initiative, BCI reaffirms its commitment to promoting knowledge, valuing new generations, and strengthening institutions, in the conviction that investing in these areas is also investing in the future of Mozambique, contributing to the construction of a more just, inclusive, and prosperous society.