A three-year Tonga Justice Sector Support Program was launched on September 26 with the aim of developing more inclusive, sustainable and responsive good governance, with law and order.

TJSSP is an important milestone for the governments of New Zealand and Tonga, funded with an NZD$3.3 million bilateral commitment, in collaboration with Tonga's Ministry of Justice.

The Ministry will work closely to implement the program with Coffey International Development as the program's managing services contractor, providing technical support.

Two areas of focus aim to strengthen the Magistrates’ Court and develop a Youth Diversion Scheme, supported through an improved Case Management System.

A workshop held earlier in the week, for the Ministry of Justice with Coffey, the Attorney General’s Office, Tonga Police and key stakeholders within and outside Government, looked at ways to work together.

The goal of the program reflects the strategic objectives of the Tonga Strategic Development Framework II 2015-2025, particularly Outcome D which is ‘A more inclusive, sustainable and responsive good-governance with law and order’, reflected in the Ministry of Justice’s Corporate Plan 2018/19-2020/21.

The launch event was held at Tanoa Hotel in Nuku'alofa.