OSCE/ODIHR presents assessment report and legal opinion on performance evaluation of judges in Moldova

Evaluating the performance of judges to help improve their skills was the focus of a roundtable event co-organized by OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the OSCE Mission to Moldova on 27 June 2014 in Chisinau.
At the meeting, ODIHR presented to 23 judges, policymakers and civil society members its “Assessment of the Performance Evaluation of Judges in Moldova” and “Opinion on the Law on the Selection, Performance Evaluation and Career of Judges in Moldova” conducted upon the request of Moldovan authorities.
“ODIHR welcomes the introduction of a new performance evaluation system for judges,” said Tina Gewis, Chief of the ODIHR Rule of Law Unit. “We hope our recommendations on legislation and practice of performance evaluation will help Moldovan authorities to make it an effective means for improving the professional skills of judges, rather than a tool for their dismissal.”
The recommendations also stress that evaluation decisions need to provide clear reasoning and advice on how individual judges can improve their performance.
Victor Micu, the Chair of the Superior Council of Magistracy of Moldova, said: “The Council requested this assessment and ODIHR’s legal opinion to bring our evaluation system closer in line with international standards.”
Rita Tamm, Human Dimension Officer at the OSCE Mission to Moldova, said: “Judges’ independence and accountability are two sides of the same coin. We are always ready to further support the Moldovan authorities in their efforts to strengthen the quality of judicial performance, thereby raising public trust in the judiciary.”
At the event, participants committed to embark on the implementation of a number of the recommendations contained in the two ODIHR documents presented. The roundtable was organized as part of OSCE work to provide assistance to Moldova under its rule of law programme.