Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1426475
Edward Zammit Lewis Edward Zammit Lewis Is Minister for Justice 12 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 7 NOVEMBER 2021 OPINION IT is no secret that the COV- ID-19 pandemic has put dig- itisation and technology into perspective for many sectors, the justice sector being one of them. It is against this backdrop that we have hastened the pace to make sure the justice system in Malta is well equipped to de- liver justice, even aided by dig- ital means. Over the past months, to- gether with other national stakeholders, we worked tire- lessly to introduce technolog- ical systems in our courts and institutions which facilitate the delivery of justice in a reasona- ble time. The transformation of the jus- tice sector through information and communication technolo- gy to e-justice or digital justice resulted in an improvement of the efficiency, effectiveness, ac- countability, integrity, and reli- ability of all those professionals involved in ensuring that not only is justice seen to be done, but it is carried out wherever this ought to be. On a national level and over the past months, the Robert Abela administration made significant steps in the right direction, including legislative reforms that go beyond what was required of us at an inter- national and European level and that are unprecedented since our country's Independ- ence. We introduced primary and subsidiary legislation which ensure that judicial acts and written pleadings can be sub- mitted online. This further en- sures that timelines and dead- lines are met, which translates into assurance for the client who is making use of the court services. We also took steps to create a system of digitized courts, through the installation of technological systems in all 27 court halls in Malta and 3 in Gozo. The importance of digitiza- tion in the justice sector and its impact on the citizen is a top- ic often discussed at European Union level. I have contribut- ed in these discussions both at EU Council of Ministers level, Council of Europe level and other fora. We have launched a Digital Justice Strategy where- in the public could provide its feedback. This strategy is set to provide results which pro- mote the use of secure and high-quality distance com- munication technology (vid- eo-conferencing), to facilitate the interconnection of national databases and registers, and to promote the use of secure elec- tronic transmission channels between competent authori- ties at the EU Level. Hence, the strategy was also set to address not only the national dimen- sion, but also the EU dimen- sion of digitalisation of justice. The Abela administration has also pledged addition- al investment in the justice sector in next year's budget (Budget 2022), specifically for the digital transformation of the sector. This allocation has increased by 16% when com- pared to 2021. Amongst many one can find measures in re- lation to the Court Services Agency, the Notarial Archives and our Legal Aid system. We also managed to tap funds to obtain this objective via the EU Recovery and Resilience Plan submitted to the Commission. The Court Services Agency, a pillar in ensuring that jus- tice is administered and deliv- ered without undue delay, is why one of the main budgetary measures in this context con- sists of the scanning of docu- mentation to prevent a loss of documents which are of ut- most importance throughout the judicial process. Reference is also made to the project at the Notarial Ar- chives which is intended to en- sure that all documents within the Notarial Archives, both past and present are scanned and kept in soft copy. This would therefore ascertain that documents are not lost and a track-record is kept making it easily accessible to the public. Access to justice and access to defence are key pillars of any democracy. It is against this backdrop that government shall invest in more sophisti- cated and modern digitalised systems within Legal Aid Mal- ta. Legal Aid Malta, has proved itself to be a key player in en- suring that the right to a legal defence and advice is provided to anyone; thus further pro- moting the principle of equal- ity of arms at law. In the near future, the Agency shall be equipped with the resources to create an online application accessible to the public and to those who want to make use of this service. Having understood the im- portance of digitalisation in all systems in society at large, par- ticularly justice, it is of utmost significance that one also take stock of the fact that any activ- ities relating to the digitalisa- tion of justice must be carried out in complete accordance with fundamental rights, in- cluding the rights to protection of personal data, a fair trial, and an efficient remedy, as well as the principles of proportion- ality and subsidiarity. Thus, when implementing matters of an e-justice nature these principles remain guidelines by which Government and au- thorities implement additional digitalisation. I am determined to create al- ternative measures to further digitalize our Justice system while making it further acces- sible to each and every citizen. In the years to come we will no longer speak of 'e-justice' but 'm-justice', thus transferring all services on our mobile phones. It is only in this manner that we can really stay at the head of the game when it comes to effective and efficient justice that does not discriminate and is accessible to all. At the forefront of digital justice