The Minister for Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, Dorothy Gwajima, has said the effective use of technology in court systems can significantly strengthen access to justice for women and girls, particularly survivors of gender-based violence.
Dr Gwajima made the remarks on March 17, 2026 while opening a meeting organised by the Tanzania Women Judges Association on the sidelines of the 70th Commission on the Status of Women, currently taking place in New York City.
Speaking to judges, delegates and experts from various countries, the minister said that achieving equality before the law requires more than constitutional guarantees and legal frameworks.
She emphasised the need for justice systems that function efficiently and remain accessible to all citizens.
Dr Gwajima commended the Tanzania Women Judges Association for presenting Tanzania’s experience on how the Judiciary of Tanzania is addressing barriers that hinder gender justice through the adoption of digital systems in courts.
She noted that the presentation demonstrated Tanzania’s progress in implementing reforms and digital transformation within the judiciary, steps that are helping to strengthen the delivery of justice and improve the protection of women’s rights.
According to Dr Gwajima, digital court systems help address several longstanding challenges in the justice sector, including long travel distances to courts, delays in case handling and the need to safeguard sensitive information of survivors of gender-based violence.
She said the systems also help reduce the psychological burden faced by survivors, as digital records securely store case information and minimise the need for victims to repeatedly recount traumatic experiences during legal proceedings.
In addition, the minister explained that digital platforms allow institutions to collect gender-disaggregated data, which is essential for informing policies and strategies aimed at improving access to justice for both women and men.
Dr Gwajima also acknowledged the contribution of women judges in advancing justice reforms, saying their leadership continues to promote a justice system that upholds dignity, accountability and the real needs of society.
