Community engagement session in Montepuez, Cabo Delgado © UNODC
Maputo (Mozambique), November 2024 – The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Mozambican Institute for Legal Aid and Sponsorship (IPAJ), launched an access to justice campaign in Northern Mozambique targetting communities in Niassa, Cabo Delgado and Nampula affected by terrorism and violent extremism.
The initiative, supported by Norway, aims to empower communities by raising awareness of human rights, equip them with mechanisms to action their rights and, when and where feasible, provide key services, such as free-of-charge legal aid, birth registration and personal ID issuance.
In the first phase of the initiative, held in November 2024, approximately 1,000 individuals from rural communities and displacement centres benefited from lectures and interactive sessions.
Speaking at the launch ceremony in Pemba, Cabo Delgado’s capital city, Carla Souto, General Director of IPAJ highlighted “the resilience of the population, which has faced repeated cycles of violence and the inhibition of basic human rights,” calling for collective approaches towards strengthening access to justice, institutional capacity and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Community representatives also shared their sentiments. Pedro Morroto, a community leader from the the Pemba Carriacó neighborhood, expressed gratitude to UNODC and IPAJ for prioritizing their region, often overlooked in such initiatives.
This first phase of the campaign involved community awareness-raising sessions and discussions covering pressing issues.
For instance, the Carriacó-Pemba community voiced concerns over rising drug use among youth and called for greater grassroots justice interventions. In Montepuez District, discussions centred on gender-based violence, land disputes, sexual harassment, and the rights and responsibilities of citizens.
In the districts of Lichinga and Metangula, community leaders were encouraged to promote women’s active involvement in preventing drug use, addressing gender-based violence and combating child marriage, given their strong influence on girls’ and boys’ early education.
Leaders also stressed the importance of creating opportunities to engage young people, steering them away from drugs and other harmful activities.
The initiative also included a session at a prison located in Montepuez, which currently houses several inmates associated with terrorism. The activity aimed to raise awareness on prisoner rights, both among prisoners and guards.
Topics such as corruption, money laundering, organized crime, and transnational crimes were also highlighted.
Importantly, this initiative mark a step toward fostering resilience, coexistence, and respect for human rights in regions affected by violent extremism.
A state institution, IPAJ plays a critical role in ensuring access to justice for economically disadvantaged citizens. By providing free legal and judicial assistance, IPAJ seeks to enhance communities their knowledge on their rights to, ultimately, empower them how to action them.
As the project continues, UNODC remains committed to strengthening institutional capacity and supporting its partners in national efforts to improve access to justice in Northern Mozambique.
UNODC extends its thanks to Norway for its support towards this initiative.