Justice Vui Clarence Nelson, one of Samoa's top judges was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Canterbury in 2023 in recognition for his work.
After spending two decades as a practising lawyer, Justice Nelson, a born and bred Samoan matai, now sits on the Supreme Court of Samoa after more than 20 years as a judge. An advocate for human rights and judicial reform throughout his career, with a particular concern for the rights of children and young people and protecting young victims of sexual violence, Justice Nelson was the first Pacific Islander to be elected to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, which he served on for eight years until the start of 2023. Also behind the first Pacific-based Young Offenders Act and Community Justice Act, Justice Nelson established the Samoa Youth Court and Olomoana Centre to house young people in conflict with the law, which also provides them opportunities to upskill.
Learn more about Justice Vui Clarence Nelson's story here.
