Earlier this month, Pacific judicial leaders, development and support partners and justice practitioners came together in Nadi, Fiji for a series of significant regional engagements focused on leadership, coordination, gender equality and judicial responses to complex justice challenges.
The annual Chief Justices’ Leadership Forum (CJLF) was held earlier this month from 9-10 February in Nadi, Fiji, bringing together senior judicial leaders from across the Pacific, including those from Australia and New Zealand. The Forum was delivered as a joint initiative by hosts, the Judicial Department of Fiji, in collaboration with the Pacific Justice Sector Programme (PJSP) and the Australia-Pacific Judicial Partnership (APJP). It provided a platform for judicial leaders to exchange perspectives on shared challenges and discuss ways to approach them. The programme also featured presentations from experienced judges, legal academics and justice sector practitioners that facilitated constructive dialogue on topics ranging from judicial independence to organised crime. A strong theme of the discussions was collaboration, with attendees underscoring the value of joint problem‑solving and mutual support in strengthening justice systems in the region. An overview of the Te Kura Kaiwhakawā judicial education curriculum was also provided, highlighting opportunities for Pacific judicial officers to participate and outlining planned collaboration with PJSP to strengthen and align future training offerings across the region.
Following the CJLF, senior judicial leaders and development partners convened on February 11 for the second annual Regional Coordination Meeting 2026. This Meeting provided a space for the regional justice support programmes to identify opportunities to strengthen alignment and coordination on responses to priorities identified by the Chief Justices at the CJLF. The meeting was attended by representatives from PJSP, APJP, the Papua New Guinea Centre for Judicial Excellence (PNGCJE), the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and a representative Chief Justice from each of the three subregions of the Pacific. Attendees agreed to strengthen information‑sharing and strategic alignment, to ensure that justice support initiatives are more efficient, responsive to local needs, and reduce the burden on the partner Pacific countries.
In a landmark moment for gender equality in Pacific justice systems, the Pacific Association of Women Judicial Officers (PAWJO) convened its inaugural Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Fiji on 11 February 2026, marking the formal establishment of the region’s first dedicated network for women serving on the bench across all levels of Pacific courts.
The Association elected its first Executive Committee in a hybrid meeting that brought together 58 members from across the region, with 11 attending in person and 47 joining online from ten Pacific jurisdictions. Members also worked through PAWJO’s draft strategy and worked on priorities for 2026. Donor and partner organisations — including the New Zealand Pacific Justice Sector Programme (PJSP), the PNG Centre for Judicial Excellence (PNGCJE) and the Australia Pacific Justice Partnership (APJP) — provided updates on available support, and in-coming president to the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ), Associate Justice Singh (Philippines) briefed members on the opportunities that future affiliation with the IAWJ could offer.
The AGM noted continued membership growth, with PAWJO now comprising 81 women judicial officers from across the Pacific, reflecting strong demand for a regional platform to support women on the bench. Secretariat support will be provided by the Ina’ilau programme, which sits within the Pacific Justice Sector Programme (PJSP) and focuses on access to justice for women and children, ensuring dedicated support while maintaining alignment with PJSP’s broader regional justice initiatives. The AGM concluded with strong momentum and a shared commitment to advancing PAWJO’s priorities in 2026.
The week’s programme concluded with a two‑day workshop focusing on responses to the dynamics of sexual and family violence from 12–13 February. Attended by over 30 Pacific judicial officers, and led by Judge Jane Farish and Professor Elisabeth McDonald, the workshop focused on judicial responses to sexual and family violence, addressing decision‑making, evidence, fair trial considerations, and judgment writing, as well as best practices, emerging challenges, and reform options relevant to judicial officers across the Pacific.