Chile
Improving Access to Justice - forthcoming
The OECD supports Chile to implement a National Council for Access to Justice. Specifically, the results of the OECD country-tailored Legal Needs Survey will identify the legal and access to justice needs of Chileans and its most vulnerable populations (e.g., women, youth, the disabled, ethnic and indigenous minorities) and feed the National Plan for Access to Justice. A scan and summary assessment will offer key policy recommendations to strengthen responsiveness, accessibility and sustainability of legal and justice services in Chile, focusing on key internal and external actors, core institutional and functional arrangements/procedures, ongoing reform initiatives, and leveraging the use of technology and data.
Colombia
Gender Equality in Colombia: Access to Justice and Politics at the Local Level
The OECD offered concrete solutions and capacity-building support to strengthen women’s access to justice and political participation in the Parliament, local councils and civil society organisations throughout Colombia (e.g., Caribbean Region, Chocó, Putumayo, and Valle del Cauca). It focused on legal, political and institutional frameworks in order to better understand successes, challenges and implementation gaps in the government’s pursuit of improving access to justice and gender equality, sustained by different approaches in OECD member and partner countries. The OECD assisted Colombia in designing and delivering policies and services that effectively promote women’s political participation and access to justice, including for survivors of gender-based violence and victims of the conflict. This work benefitted from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) support. Read more here.
Sound Structure of Government and Effective Justice Institutions
The 2015 OECD Accession Brief assesses the effectiveness and efficiency of Colombia’s justice sector within the framework of the rule of law, as compared to OECD good practices and policies in public governance. It outlines the structural organisation of the justice system and presents the reforms including the shift to an oral procedural system and the transitional justice law. It also highlights the key policies and practices affecting judicial capacity, performance and integrity.
Costa Rica
Sound Structure of Government and Effective Justice Institutions
The 2016 OECD Accession Brief assess the effectiveness of the Costa Rican justice system, as compared to OECD good practices and policies in public governance. It describes the key policies and practices affecting judicial capacity and performance. It also highlights the overall performance of the Costa Rican court system, and focuses on access to justice and conflict resolution.
Egypt
Towards Child-Friendly Justice - ongoing
The OECD supports Egypt and notably the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood in establishing a child-friendly justice system by enhancing governance and institutional coordination, judicial capacity and effectiveness of the overall system. Through a series of policy dialogue and peer-to-peer workshops, the project will design a roadmap aiming to provide concrete recommendations for reform, accompanying implementation plan, followed by capacity-building training activities. Further information here.
Strengthening the Rule of Law: Effective and Transparent Delivery of Justice and Rule-Making - ongoing
The OECD is working with the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Cassation to design and implement an automated case management system for the Court of Cassation; build related staff capacity of staff, in view of reducing case delays and improving the provision of judicial services to the public. A second objective oversees building capacities in legislative drafting and strengthen mechanisms for consultation in the rule-making process and linked to broader agenda of the Egyptian Government on ensuring quality legislation. Further information here.
Ireland
Judicial Staffing Needs, Access to Justice and Judicial Map - ongoing
The OECD supports the Department of Justice of Ireland to analyse the state of the judicial workforce to ensure the optimal level of performance of the judicial system in Ireland. The project provides a quantitative analysis of judicial workload and number of judges in Ireland required to manage the demand of justice (incoming cases) in reasonable time, as compared to other selected OECD jurisdictions as well as an assessment of the distribution of judges, staff and workload among courts. It also involves the analysis of the court workflow process with a view of supporting an efficient allocation of new positions among courts (judicial map).
Kazakhstan
Strengthening the Accessibility of Justice Services for Citizens and Businesses
In the context of the extended OECD-Kazakhstan Country Programme in the area of public governance, the OECD conducted an overview of the current governance and justice sector reforms undertaken in Kazakhstan at the time, based on peer-to-peer dialogue and international good practices. The support focused on strengthening accessibility of justice for people and businesses through more effective commercial and investment dispute resolution mechanisms and the protection of individual rights before public authorities.
Public service-People interface: administrative justice
The OECD supported Kazakhstan in the creation of an administrative justice system and an effective dispute resolution mechanism between private stakeholders (businesses, citizens) and public institutions (including between these institutions; local government). Specifically, the OECD helped review the drafts of the administrative justice code and procedural law to ensure its alignment with good international practices.
Commercial and Investment Dispute Resolution Mechanisms
The OECD analysed Kazakh business’ pathways and justice needs to identify legal and justice service gaps and focus on the legislative framework and institutional services related to starting and registering a business, their daily operations (including red tape) and the protection of investors in order to encourage a thriving economy. The review considered the quality of the services provided by commercial courts and investment dispute mechanisms from a business- and investor-centred point of view (e.g., the way that commercial disputes are resolved which impact backlog, length and quality of the procedure, independence and communication).
Latvia
Developing Child-centred Justice & supporting Barnahus model implementation through Cost-Benefit Analysis
The OECD supports Latvia’s efforts within the framework of the EEA financial mechanism in improving the child-friendliness of justice and overall system of the protection of children’s rights. The project assesses legal needs, justice pathways and experiences of children as well as the responsiveness of justice services system and existing socio-justice services to needs of children. It further includes providing a cost-benefit analysis for the establishment of the Barnahus model, as a child-friendly, multidisciplinary and interagency response to the needs of child victims and witnesses of violence. Further information here.
Developing an Effective Online Dispute Resolution Concept - ongoing
Building on strategic objectives and a series of technological solutions introduced by Latvia for more effective dispute resolution, the OECD supports the country’s efforts through the development of a system-wide framework for online dispute resolution (ODR) founding on the OECD conceptual tool. It will offer a robust approach and deepen the understanding of its key elements based on good international practices and international standards, as well as an extensive literature review. The OECD will conduct an in-depth assessment of the current practices, challenges and opportunities in ODR, and the use of digital technologies and data in the justice sector in the view of improving the user-centricity of pathways for resolving disputes in Latvia. This work benefits from the European Commission support under the TSI programme.
Performance of the Prosecution Services
A benchmark analysis that takes stock of Latvian efforts in prosecution practices to improve performance of its criminal justice sector in view of the challenges posed by complex types of criminality to public prosecution services, with particular emphasis on economic and financial crimes. It formulates policy recommendations to improve the performance of prosecution in Latvia by strengthening accountability mechanisms, committing to strategic management tools and leveraging data to design evidence-based policy. It further suggests ways to improve human resources management including exploring opportunities for training, specialisation, and increased use of simplified procedures. The report also highlights the potential for better cooperation across the whole of the justice chain, including with judges, investigators and the ministry of justice. Read more here.
Access to Justice for Business and Inclusive Growth
The OECD reviewed the commercial, legal and regulatory framework in Latvia, highlighting its impact on businesses in the age of technology and its suitability for different forms of commercial activity. It analysed business’ legal and justice needs, and evaluates the accessibility and responsiveness of public services for business, including dispute resolution mechanisms. Finally, the report provides recommendations to help Latvia better tailor justice services to the needs of business, strategies to reduce administrative burdens and thus support more inclusive growth. Read more here.
Sound Structure of Government and Effective justice institutions
The 2014 Accession Brief assess the effectiveness of the Latvian justice system, as compared to OECD good practices and policies in public governance. It outlines the structural organisation of the judicial system and describes the key policies and practices affecting judicial capacity and performance. It also highlights the overall performance of the Latvian court system, and focuses on the access to justice and issues related to administrative justice.
Lithuania
Sound Structure of Government and Effective Justice Institutions
The 2017 OECD Accession Brief assesses the effectiveness of the Lithuanian justice system, as compared to OECD good practices and policies in public governance. It outlines the structural organisation of the judicial system and describes the key policies and practices affecting judicial capacity and performance. It also highlights the overall performance of the court system, and focuses on access to justice.
Mexico
Strengthening Local Legal Institutions for Inclusive Growth and Sound Investment Climate
The OECD has contributed to the study “Commercial and Mortgage Contract Enforcement in Mexican States: Reliability and Local Institutions Development Indicators” by presenting an overview of access to justice of businesses at the local level in Mexico. It presents the role of legal and justice institutions in promoting inclusive growth and development and underlines the importance of accessibility and responsiveness of justice. It also makes recommendations for strengthening the methodological foundations of the Study and identifies broad directions for potential policy reforms to strengthen local court capacity for a sound investment climate. Read more here.
Justicia Cotidiana: Security and Justice for Inclusive Growth
The OECD input fed theCentro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas'(CIDE) Report to the Mexican government for a holistic justice reform strategy. It addresses effective justice as a driver for economic performance and trust in government as well as a determinant of quality of life.
Morocco
Supporting Digital Transformation of the Justice System - ongoing
The OECD supports the implementation of its reform to digitise its justice system in the context of the Morocco Country Programme II (2021-2022), drawing on the recommendations of the OECD Digital Government Review of Morocco (2018). Our contribution provides strategic analysis and relies on peer-to-peer learning sessions, capacity-building workshops including on governance of the digitalisation of the justice sector (i.e., vision, leadership, institutional models, and financial management); digital skills and rights; big data analytics and artificial intelligence for smarter justice. Hands-on support on-site and remotely will guide the Moroccan justice stakeholders step-by-step in the policy process and implementation throughout the different stages of its digital transformation. It aims to help bringing the Morocco closer to its commitments under the 2030 UN Agenda and SDG 16.3 to promote the rule of law and ensure equal access to justice.
Portugal
Modernisation of the Justice Sector - ongoing
The OECD supports Portugal’s implementation of its justice modernisation agenda shifting towards people-centricity and the enhanced use of digital technologies and data in the justice. It aims to enhance transparency and trust in justice institutions by simplifying and digitalising procedures, promoting justice innovation, and bringing the institutions closer to individuals and businesses. Key policy recommendations cover: digitalisation, design and delivery of justice services, digital competencies of justice sector stakeholders and the availability, accessibility and re-usability of justice data. It further advances its revision of the National Plan for Resilience and Recovery, and the implementation of the EU priorities on digital and its commitments under 2030 UN Agenda and SDG 16.3 to promote the rule of law and ensure equal access to justice. This work benefits from the European Commission support under the TSI programme.
Justice Transformation in Portugal: Building on Successes and Challenges
Taking stock of the Portugal's reforms to make the justice sector more transparent, accessible and effective, the OECD examined its specific programmes aimed at promoting innovation, humanisation and proximity to people using digital technologies, simplification and dematerialisation of procedures and suggested ways to enhance further service integration, systems’ interoperability and use of data, and procedural simplification and alignment. Policy recommendations to promote the effectiveness and sustainability of the current reform further: strengthening cooperation and streamlining interactions across public agencies, for example through a shared vision of transformation and shared resources. Read more here.
Tunisia
Strengthening SMEs’ Access to Public Service Delivery and Administrative Dispute Resolution Mechanisms at the National and Local Level
The OECD supported Tunisia in strengthening the business climate in its regions by identifying the legal needs of SME’s and enhancing their access to public services including dispute resolution with the administration at the central and local level (Sousse, Béja, Tozeur, and Tunis). Implementation support focused on supporting the decentralisation of the Administrative Tribunal by building the capacity of the newly created regional chambers: guide administrative judges to leverage digital tools; improve information and orientation of people and SMEs provided by reception personnel. It further helped unify and simplify the procedures to file an appeal and apply for legal aid at the Administrative Tribunal. This work benefitted from the UK- Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) support. Further information here.
United Kingdom – Northern Ireland
Problem-solving Justice in Northern Ireland - Justice in Northern Ireland
The OECD support focused on the importance of gender-sensitive approaches and strategies to enhance access to justice for women, victims of violence. As part of the Public Governance Review of Northern Ireland, this work explores the feasibility of broadening the scope and ambition of a problem-solving approach within the judiciary of Northern Ireland, as part of the NI Executive’s public-governance reform agenda. It specifically provided a review of the Domestic Violence Listing Arrangement (DVLA) in the Londonderry Magistrates’ Court and an analysis of the establishment of a Family Justice Centre in Londonderry as well as gender gaps between the promise of access to justice and the realities faced by women in their communities. Read the full report here.
Yemen
Reinforcing the Rule of Law: Developing the Capacities of the Judiciary - ongoing
Within the MENA-OECD Governance Programme, this Strategic guidance offers an overview of the work by Yemen in improving the delivery of justice services and provides recommendations on the development and implementation of a judicial reform in a post-conflict perspective. This work draws on the findings of a series of interviews, peer-to-peer exchanges, study visits, capacity-building activities and technical workshops conducted by the OECD since 2014 and addressed to Yemeni officials in charge of justice services as well as on evidence collected through several different channels including official documents, desk research and field data. Further information here.