OSCE Skopje supports innovative Internet database bringing greater transparency to work of judiciary
SKOPJE, 15 September 2005 - The OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje today launched its support for a local initiative aimed at ensuring unprecedented public access to information about the country's judiciary and its work.
As part of the project, entitled "Transparency and Access to Information - Model for Independent Court System", which was launched in mid-year by the Council for Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency, the Kavadarci Basic Court today launched an internet database containing regularly-updated information on ongoing and completed cases, trials schedules, court decisions and procedures, judges' profiles and other details of court operations and useful statistical data.
"We are pleased to support the activity, which is strengthening the transparency and accountability of the judicial system, and increasing public trust and confidence in the judiciary," said Victor Ullom, the Head of the Rule of Law Unit of the OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje.
"The project is creating a quiet revolution in the judiciary, which will benefit both the people and those in the legal community", he added.
The presentation in Kavadarci followed the recent public presentation of the Tetovo Basic Court's annual performance report. The court, which serves a mixed ethnic population in the north-western part of the country, provided this unique public access to court-related information in an effort to increase citizen confidence in the judicial system.
Similar presentations are planned for several more courts throughout the country before the end of the year.
Support for the project is being provided by the Ministry of Justice and the Republican Judicial Council, with funding from the OSCE Mission.