The First Conference of Justice Ministers Held in BiH



17.12.2008. - The First Conference of Justice Ministers in BiH has been held today. Conferences of Justice Ministers in Bosnia and Herzegovina were set up to ensure coordinated monitoring of the implementation of key reforms of mutual interests of the justice sector of BiH. The ministerial conferences enable resolving of key issues in justice in agreement, exchanging of lessons learned and best practices and employing of national and international resources.

Preserving integrity, efficiency and independency of judiciary is the key feature of each democracy.

The past practice has shown that, within the constitutional framework of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a justice system that have equal standards and ensures integrity, efficiency and independency cannot be achieved without active and coordinated actions of authorities responsible for its establishment and functioning.

Organizing the First Conference of Justice Ministers and its future work is an important step in strengthening and continuing reforms in the justice sector, first of all in the implementation of the BiH Justice Sector Strategy, which was passed by the Council of Ministers of BiH, Entity Government sand the Judicial Commission of Brčko District of BiH in June this year.

The participants of the ministerial conference have fully supported establishment of partnership, cooperation and collaboration of the judicial authorities in BiH.

Monitoring the implementation of joint actions and initiatives and giving expert opinions and suggestions for resolving the key issues in justice will be carried out by specific working groups that will be appointed by the Minister of Justice of BiH on a proposal of authorities taking part in the ministerial conference.

With a view to preserving a systemic approach to monitoring of donors’ assistance given to the  justice sector, the ministerial conference will regularly consider reports on the progress and key activities of the judicial authorities and the donors, as well as other issues concerning the functioning of the donors’ fund in the justice sector, including improvements of the efficiency of donors’ assistance, setting priorities in project funding from the donors’ fund and considering the implementation reports.

The ministerial conferences will carry decisions, recommendations and conclusions by reaching a consensus, while each ministerial conference will produce joint recommendations and press releases.

The ministerial conferences will be held twice a year: in the second week of June and in the second week of December, the venue to be agreed by the participants.

Administrative support and logistics for the ministerial conferences will be provided by the sectors or officers in charge of strategic planning and internal coordination within the Ministries of Justice of BiH and Entities, the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of BiH and the Judicial Commission of Brčko District of BiH

The Ministries of Justice in BiH, the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of BiH and the Judicial Commission of Brčko District of BiH have committed to support the ministerial conferences and take part in them.