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COMPONENT 3 BOLSTERING PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE RULE OF LAW
Improving the engagement of civil society in developing the rule of law and increasing the public’s trust in the delivery of justice in BiH are essential to lasting judicial reform. JSDP II will seek to establish a network of NGOs and professional associations and help them develop effective advocacy and public awareness campaigns and monitoring programs. JSDP II will establish a subgrants program to provide financial support to network members. The project will also help expand court monitoring by journalists to make the work of the judiciary better understood and more transparent. JSDP II will also support efforts by civil society to develop tangible policy and legislative reform initiatives to improve the administration of justice.
In achieving its goals, Component 3 works closely with three key NGO partners: Association of Democratic Initiatives Sarajevo (ADI) (www.adi.org.ba), Human Rights Office Tuzla (www.hrotuzla.org.ba) and Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (www.bim.ba)
I Establishment of the Justice Sector Civil Society Network Implemented in cooperation with Association of Democratic Initiatives Sarajevo (ADI)
Current Activities
The Justice Sector Civil Society Network (www.adi.org.ba/jscsn) has been established on 22.01.2010 and now counts 36 civil society organizations, including non-governmental organizations and professional associations in the justice sector
The establishment and development of the Justice Sector Civil Society Network is a means in achieving greater impact at policy level and to setting standards in accountability. It will result in improved information, through sharing best practices and avoiding duplication. Finally, the network will contribute to the creation of solidarity. Through such strengthened collaboration CSOs in the justice sector should be able to embrace public policy advocacy as their fundamental role.
Documents:
Strategic Planning for the Justice Sector Civil Society Network
The first strategic planning session was held on February, 11 and 12 2010 in Sarajevo. Member organizations produced a draft strategy with main interest areas of their future work. Another strategic planning session is planned to be held in March after which an action plan should be produced.
Active Engagement of the Justice Sector Civil Society Network in the UPR
Building the right skills for effective relations across sectors is an endeavor that requires proactive measures from both sides. The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) (http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBODIES/UPR/Pages/UPRMain.aspx), a human rights monitoring mechanism of the UN Human Rights Council, which also focuses on the rule of law and justice issues, presents an initial organizing framework of activity for the network, and more importantly a means for the network to engage productively with the government on rule of law and justice issues.
Bosnia and Herzegovina had its first review before the UN Council on February 17, 2010. Recommendations of the UN Council are yet to be finalized.
In that respect, the Justice Sector Civil Society Network will take an active role in UPR process by making mandatory recommendations of the UN Human Rights Council and state commitments public; monitor the implementation of recommendations, and engage in dialogue with the state to participate in the implementation of recommendations The Justice Sector Civil Society Network will also attend Geneva-based plenary session to communicate comments elicited at public roundtable discussions by giving an oral statement and issuing the written. The statement the Network will closely focus on justice sector issues in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In order to create submission in an inclusive manner that will reflect all aspects of justice sector issues, two round tables with state representatives will be organized, before creation of final submission.
Documents:
Planned Activities Capacity Building for the Justice Sector Civil Society Network Raising Public Awareness of and Building Support for the Justice Sector Civil Society Network Communication strategy is being developed as part of the strategic planning process and the Network will in the next period work to develop internal and external means of communication.
II Expansion of Journalist-Based Court Monitoring to make the Work of the Judiciary more Transparent
Implemented in cooperation with Balkan Investigative Reporting Network
Current Activities:
BIRN will provide training to 30 selected journalists in independent and objective monitoring of war crimes trials before the following 11 selected cantonal and district courts: Brcko, Livno, Bihac, Zenica, Banja Luka, Mostar, Bijeljina, Travnik/Novi Travnik, Trebinje and Doboj. The selection of these courts secures good geographical coverage of BiH and is in line with the transfer of war crimes cases to these courts as planned under the BiH War Crimes Strategy.
Through trained journalists BIRN will monitor eleven selected cantonal and district courts, to determine how prepared they are to try war crimes, with regard to securing access to information and transparency of work, witness protection and support and the right to defense, which will result in detailed studies to inform policy makers and human rights advocates
Planned Activities:
BIRN will also hold periodic consultative meetings with court officials to discuss findings and produce recommendations for procedural or transparency reforms in the courts. The information will be made available to wider public through BIRN’s specialized information agency Justice Report, which uses a pool of local journalists to regularly inform the public on issues related to war crimes trials through media outlets, subscription and over 100 republications recorded a month.
Documents:
“Livno Pledges to Get Tough on War Crime Cases” by Erna Mackic (http://www.bim.ba/en/202/10/25126)
“Slow Transfer of Cases Undermines War Crimes Strategy”, by Denis Dzidic (http://www.bim.ba/en/200/10/24791)
“Future of Genocide Trials Hangs on Karadzic Verdict” by Erna Mackic (http://www.bim.ba/en/193/10/23794)
III Supporting the Development of Justice-Sector Policy or Legislative Reforms by Civil Society Implemented in cooperation with Human Rights Office Tuzla
Current Activities:
Human Rights Office Tuzla is conducting an advocacy campaign for policy change and legislative reform affecting the juvenile justice system. Currently Human Rights Office organizes meetings with state officials and other relevant stakeholders as well as round tables in order to get as much comments on proposed draft laws as possible. While Human Rights Office advocates the adoption of Law on Protection of Children and Juveniles in Criminal Proceedings in Federation Bosnia and Herzegovina, it paralelly advocates the implementation of the recently adopted Law on Protection of Children and Juveniles in Criminal Proceedings in Republika Srpska
IV Planned Activities
Small Grants Program for Participants of the Justice Sector Civil Society Network Small grants program will be implemented by JSDP II from March 2010 and will support advocacy campaigns for policy change and legislative reform on rule of law and justice issues relevant to BiH accession to EU. Some of the possible themes include advocacy for harmonization and consolidation of criminal legislation, the establishment of a BiH Supreme Court, and standardized and equitable funding of the judiciary. The specific themes of advocacy campaigns will be chosen by participants of the Justice Sector Civil Society Network member organizations. |
