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CEPEJ supports pilot courts in Azerbaijan and Moldova in view of conducting satisfaction surveys aimed at court users

A workshop on conducting court users’ satisfaction surveys was carried out by the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) on 17-18 March 2016 in Strasbourg, France, as part of the PCF co-operation projects with the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Moldova.*

The participants to the workshop, representing CEPEJ pilot courts and other justice stakeholders from Azerbaijan and Moldova, were introduced into the objectives and prerequisites of the dialogue with court users, primarily through conducting satisfaction surveys. CEPEJ pays particular attention to taking into account users’ expectations on the functioning of the courts and to conducting satisfaction surveys as a means to identify these expectations and to increase the quality of justice and courts. Judges and court managers should be aware and make use of this tool through cost-effective solutions for implementing surveys in regard to general court users (parties, victims etc.) and specific categories such as lawyers. In addition, an assessment of the pilot courts in Azerbaijan and Moldova carried out in the second half of 2015 revealed a certain instability of staff, which is an important factor for ensuring the quality of courts. Accordingly, conducting surveys and taking measures to improve the satisfaction of court staff was recommended as part of the CEPEJ court coaching programmes in both countries.

The workshop allowed an extended exchange on good practices and lessons learned from implementation of court users’ and staff satisfaction surveys in a number of countries represented by CEPEJ experts, such as Switzerland (esp. Republic and Canton of Geneva), France, Italy, Estonia and Slovenia. An important part of the agenda was dedicated to coaching on the organisation and conduct in the pilot courts of different types of satisfaction surveys, in terms of target groups and applicable methodologies. The recommendations conveyed to the participants focused on solutions applicable at the level of individual courts and involving actively the court staff (for a better sustainability of the respective initiatives, improving the organisational culture and the overall acceptance of a pro-active communication with court users).  

*The Projects "Support to Increased Efficiency of Courts, Improved Training of Judges and Judicial Self-governance in Azerbaijan" and "Strengthening the efficiency of justice and support to lawyer’s profession in the Republic of Moldova" are part of the Joint CoE and EU Eastern Partnership Programmatic Cooperation Framework for 2015-2017, funded by the European Union and implemented by the Council of Europe.

 

 

Strasbourg 18/03/2016
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About the Project

Description

The Project “Strengthening the efficiency of justice and support to lawyers’ profession in the Republic of Moldova” is a part of the Council of Europe and European Union Eastern Partnership Programmatic Co-operation Framework (PCF) 2015-2017

The main objectives of the project are to strengthen the independence and efficiency of the judiciary and to improve the quality of the profession of lawyer.

The project has two components:

1. “Strengthening the efficiency of the judicial system in the Republic of Moldova”;

2. “Support to the Moldovan Bar Association”.

Impact of the Project:

In a long-lasting perspective, the Project will ensure the rule of law in the Republic of Moldova.

The level of trust by the public in the independence of the justice system and of the judges will increase. Court users will enjoy a higher level of satisfaction with the public service of justice. Court efficiency will be improved and users of the courts will experience acceleration in the delivery of justice.

Lawyers will enjoy a freedom to exercise their profession without discrimination, interference or pressure and will have access to courts and their clients in accordance with fair trial requirements. They will make an important contribution to the protection of human rights and to a fair administration of justice. In a long-lasting perspective, the Project will ensure the rule of law in the Republic of Moldova.

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Project overview

Status: Active

Duration: January 2015 – December 2017

Geographic coverage: Republic of Moldova

Focus Area: Supporting the national judiciary and the pilot courts through implementation of the tools developed by the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice CEPEJ) in view of improving the efficiency and quality of justice; Strengthening the Moldovan Bar Association as regards its role in management of the lawyers’ profession, admission to profession, training, ethics and disciplinary proceedings, as well as strengthening the MBA’s capacity of training the lawyers in line with European standards and the recommendations of the relevant Council of Europe bodies concerning the mandate and functioning of the Bar Associations.

Senior Project officer: Ruslan Grebencea, e-mail address:

Partners: Superior Council of Magistracy, Ministry of Justice and its Department of Judicial Administration, National Institute of Justice, Supreme Court of Justice and six national courts, Moldovan Bar Association and its subdivisions, other lawyers associations. 

Component I

“Strengthening the efficiency of the Moldovan judicial system"

General objective:

Supporting the judicial administration and the courts to implement the tools developed by the European Commission

Supporting the national judicial administration and the courts to implement the tools developed by the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice CEPEJ) in view of improving the efficiency and quality of justice. In case of positive results of the envisaged activities in the pilot phase, proposals for their dissemination on the national level will be formulated and further Council of Europe support envisaged.

Expected results:

The expected results of the implementation of this project is to improve the efficiency of the justice system in the Republic of Moldova
  1. The capacity of the Superior Council of Magistracy and other national authorities in assessing the efficiency and quality of the justice system is strengthened.
  2. The efficiency and quality of judicial services in pilot courts are improved through the application of the methodology and tools developed by the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) on judicial time management and quality of justice.
  3. An action plan for the dissemination of the results of the pilot phase for increased efficiency and quality of judicial services is developed and promoted in dialogue with the judicial and governmental authorities.
  4. The National Institute of Justice uses the CEPEJ tools and guidelines on efficiency and quality of justice in the initial and continuous training of judges and court staff.
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Component II

“Support to the Moldovan Bar Association”

General objective:

Strengthening the Moldovan Bar Association as regards its role in recruitment, training and disciplinary proceedings

Strengthening the national training institution of legal professionals in line with European standards and the recommendations of the relevant Council of Europe bodies concerning the mandate and functioning of the Bar Associations.

Expected results:

The expected results of the implementation of this project is to improve the institutional capacities of the MBA as self-administration body of lawyers
  1. Increased compliance of national legislations and regulation relating to the mandate and functioning of the Moldovan Bar Association (MBA) with European standards and Council of Europe recommendations.
  2. The regulatory framework of the MBA (including ethical and disciplinary rules) is developed in line with European standards.
  3. Strengthened capacity of the MBA management and staff to apply management techniques.
  4. Increased skills and knowledge of lawyers through the development of curricula for continuous training courses and the use on the Online Teaching Platform.
  5. Provisions of the national legislation and regulations related to the selection criteria for membership of the Advocates Licensing Commission and its functioning are in line with European standards.
  6. Compliance of national disciplinary proceedings against lawyers with European standards and Council of Europe recommendations largely increased.
  7. Advocates' rights in disciplinary proceedings are strengthened and the rights of third parties, such as clients, are protected.
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