Countries With The Worst Justice System
The Court is the last hope of a common man, as it dispenses Justice fairly to every man. Hence liberating a common man from facing the unmerited consequences of an action or crime. Justice is usually dispensed by the Courts through the Judiciary, and a State attains a sound Justice system through the effectiveness of the Judiciary, the Government, and it’s agencies. In this article, we shall look at countries with the worst justice system.
What Is a Justice System?
A Justice System is widely defined to mean the various agencies, establishments, Institution, and association tasked with administering and enforcing Law in a State. This Law could be the Criminal or Civil Law of the State.
A Justice system usually comprises of Law Enforcement agencies, the Courts, and Correctional centers.
1. Law Enforcement Agencies: Law Enforcement agencies are charged with maintaining Law and order in a State, by preventing and investigating crimes, arresting suspects of a crime, closing down illegal companies, ensuring the safety of Citizens of a State, and all.
2. Court: The Court consists of Lawyers, Juries and Judges. They interpret the Law, prosecute, and sanction Criminal Offenders, as well as impose fine or damages on a defaulters of a Civil Cause. The Court enforces Law in a State through interpreting the Provisions of a Law, and punishing offenders who default such Law.
3. Correctional Centers: A Correctional Centre incorporates all sorts of Punishment, penalty, and sentencing pronounced by the Court after investigation by the Law enforcement agencies and the institution of same matter by these Law enforcement agencies in the Court of Law.
Determinants of a Good Judicial System
The following are the factors which makes a State have a very good Justice System:
1. Effectiveness of Government checks: In a democratic State, there are three organs of Government and the principle of Checks and Balance takes full spring; in that each organ of Government shall checkmate the actions of the other organ and restrict it’s arbitrary use of it’s powers.
The Effectiveness of Government checks on each organ and Governmental agencies helps to prevent abuse of Governmental powers by the Executive, it’s agencies, and the Judiciary. Hence, making the Judicial System in the State more efficient.
2. Openness of the Government: An Open Government is a Government which shares information, empowers citizens with tools to hold the Government accountable, and Forster the Participation of Citizens in the deliberation of Public Policy.
A State wherein the Rights of it’s Citizens are well publicized and accorded priority, it’s citizens being allowed participate in the decision making process of the Government, and having access to the right information makes a good Justice System.
3. Absence of Corruption: Corruption is an act of dishonesty or an illegal behaviour exhibited by people in Authority. Corruption usually comes in four forms, namely: Bribery, Lobbying for private interest, misappropriation of public funds, and the use of Government office for private gain.
When there is a high level of corruption in a state, there will be little or no consideration of the needs and rights of the Citizens, and this affects the effectiveness of the Judicial system in the State.
4. Upholding the tenets of Fundamental Human Rights: Protecting the basic rights of the citizens in a state and upholding the observance of the rule of Law in that state is an important factor which makes a good Judicial System in the State.
5. Security: A watertight Security System leads to the enforcement of Law and Order in a State. However, where there is an absence of an effective Security System, the citizens in a State may willingly commit a crime or suffer a wrong without a remedy. Hence, Justice will not be dispensed to them, but in a State where the reverse is the case, Law and Order will be maintained in the State and Justice will be upheld.
6. Effectiveness of Government agencies: The Government cannot handle everything in a State by itself, that is why they set up some agencies which will assist in enforcing Law and order in the state and implementing Policies which will protect the citizens of the State.
The Effectiveness and efficiency of these Government agencies is another major determinant of the good Justice System in the State.
7. Access to Justice: Justice cannot be served where the citizens do not have access to Justice. The accessibility of Citizens to lay their complaints and follow up their grievances in Court leads to effective delivery of Justice in a State.
These aforementioned factors are key factors which determines the strength and efficiency of the Justice System in a State. Sadly, a good number of these factors are absent in a good number of States in the world today, and some of these States in question are deemed to have the worst Justice System in the World.
Countries with the Worst Justice System
Venezuela
Venezuela has the overall lowest rank when it comes to the countries with the worst justice system in the world. It is among the most corrupt countries in the world or better to say THE worst country when it comes to this list. Corruption perpetrates almost every sphere of life in Venezuela, and even those with top functions are allegedly corrupt. Even Venezuelan vice-president confirmed this by stating that there is no separation of drugs and state. This directly implies the injustice in the justice system as well. It is corrupt, inefficient and the offenders can easily escape the law if they bribe the right people.
Cambodia
Since it is ranked this high on our list of countries with the worst justice system in the world, it is expected that Cambodia is in a lower tercile in all eight aggregated factors of WJP Rule of Law Index. It is the lowest ranked country in East Asia and Pacific region when it comes to civil justice factor. Corruption among prosecutors, judges and court officials is widespread, and because of unlawful police practices, victims rarely find justice.
Afghanistan
Sadly, the Afghan National police are known to be notoriously corrupt. The existence of corruption in justice system immediately raises the feelings of insecurity among the people living in the country. The lack of access to justice and fair implementation of law directly impacts the lives of Afghani people causing them to turn to alternative ways of dealing with their disputes. Afghanistan is also in a lower tercile in all eight aggregated factors of WJP Rule of Law Index.
Egypt
When it comes to constraints on government powers, Egypt is ranked as 110/113. According to the “Open Government” factor which measures the openness of government (the government that empowers people and shares information), Egypt is ranked as the worst country.
Cameroon
Corruption is present in almost every sphere of life in Cameroon that ranks 5th in our list of countries with the worst justice system in the world. Displeased with its justice system, citizens of Cameroon rely on “street justice” more than ever. This process of “private justice” is becoming more popular because people don’t have confidence in the justice system. This is confirmed by the report as well since Cameroon takes 111th place (out of 113) when it comes to the factor of “Order and Security) and in the region of Sub-Saharan Africa, it is ranked as the worst country
Bangladesh
Although placed at the bottom of our list, Bangladesh was placed in bottom tercile in all eight factors: constraints on government powers, open government, order and security, civil justice, the absence of corruption, fundamental rights, regulatory enforcement and criminal justice. However, when it comes to the regional rank of South Asia, Bangladesh is ranked as second out of six countries.
Bolivia
Bolivia is a Country in Central South America, with a Judicial System divided into Upper and Lower level, but with the ultimate power resting on the Supreme Court of Justice.
Bolivia’s judicial system is a pretty thorny one. The rule of law is often circumvented, and the system itself is very weak and inefficient. When it comes to the criteria of criminal justice, Corruption and lack of transparency is a constant problem in Bolivia, and according to Corruption Absence criteria.
Pakistan
Pakistan is also ranked on lists of worst countries for worker’s rights since Pakistani workers face exclusion from labour laws and are threatened by arrest and violence. Most of the participants in the survey answered that although they experienced dispute over the last 12 months, they chose to do nothing about it.
Pakistan just like Saudi Arabia is an Asian Country. It reportedly strides low on the operation and enforcement of Rule of Law in the Country and the Judicial System in Pakistan has been labelled one of the worst in the world both for Judicial officers and also for the Citizens who are often not served Justice due to the lengthy trials in the state which makes Justice being delayed and at the same time being Denied.
In summary, I hope you find this article useful and helpful as well.
