Ensuring independence and quality of judiciaries vital for democratic societies say participants at OSCE/ODIHR meeting in Warsaw
WARSAW, 21 November 2016 – Promoting effective justice systems and, in particular, ensuring the independence and quality of judiciaries are vital to the promotion of human rights and democratic societies, participants at the opening of an OSCE meeting in Warsaw said today.
The three-day event brings together more than 100 representatives of governments, international organizations and civil society, and is organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), in co-operation with the German Chairmanship of the OSCE.
“Without an individual’s right to a fair trial, including to effective remedies, and the effective separation of powers, checks and balances do not exist,” said Germany’s Ambassador to Poland, Rolf Nikel. “Judicial action has to be efficient, fair and of high quality. Otherwise, judicial independence cannot be guaranteed. These principles are at the core of a democratic order.”
“Judicial reforms should strengthen the independence of the judiciary, and ensure that it is accountable to those it seeks to serve,” he added.
Katarzyna Jarosiewicz-Wargan, First Deputy Director of ODIHR, emphasized that civil society has an important place in this process.
“Civil society also has a key role to play in supporting and promoting judicial accountability and independence,” Jarosiewicz-Wargan said. “It can aid in monitoring the selection and promotion processes for judges, in monitoring the administration of justice, in commenting on proposed judicial reforms, and in helping to draft and advocate for strengthened legislation.”
In his keynote address, Juan Botero, Executive Director of the World Justice Project, said that ensuring judicial independence is a complex task.
“This requires an express recognition of competing social interests and seeking balance among them, as well as approaching justice as a public service, from a user’s perspective, considering both the supply and demand aspects,” Botero said. “It also requires the use of reliable data to align incentives among constituencies, and that we take into account cultural differences and avoid pro-forma, one-size-fits-all solutions.”
Working sessions at the meeting will focus on the selection, promotion and training of judges, and the related impact on judicial accountability and the integrity of justice systems; as well as the role of civil society in observing judicial independence and accountability.