Donors Informed on the Activities in the Justice Sector



Eleventh Donor Update Meeting in the Justice Sector has been held today in Sarajevo. Ministry of Justice of BiH has presented to the representatives of donors and local coordinators the summary of realization of activities in the implementation of BiH Justice Sector Reform Strategy, as well as summary of the activities on the establishment of Donor Fund for its implementation. Participants of the meeting were also introduced with the work and conclusions of the Ministerial Conference and plan of implementation of the planned reforms in the following period.

Viewed from the aspect of time, BiH Justice Sector Reform Strategy is half implemented. Based on previously held meetings of the functional working groups and five ministerial conferences, evaluation of implementation has identified important open challenges, both formal and substantive.

On the other hand, over the previous period a lot has been done in achieving more effective judicial system. Besides computerization of judicial institutions and training of managerial staff, timeframes for working on court cases have been adopted. Certain regulations at the entity and state level have been harmonized and more realistic financing of judicial institutions has been ensured. Care of court users has been increased, the role of civil sector in the judiciary has been strengthened and new Law on Free Legal Assistance is being drafted. Activities on the implementation of State Prison Project have been significantly intensified, and beginning of construction is expected in the following months.

Participants of the meeting have expressed interest for and supported establishment of Joint Donor Fund from which implementation of activities defined in BiH Justice Sector Reform Strategy will be financed.

Purpose of JSRS Fund is to ensure additional financing for the implementation of BiH Justice Sector Reform Strategy and its Action Plan, where appropriate, in order to have harmonized and coordinated implementation of BiH JSRS and decrease transaction and administrative costs related to the implementation of projects from the Justice Sector of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which are financed or co-financed from the donor funds.