News

With the support of USAID Judicial Systems Strengthening Program, Kosovo citizens can now have a unique insight into their court system with information and services available on-line, at their new home on the internet - the “My Court" portal.

Videoconferencing was first piloted in Moldovan courts and penitentiaries in November 2018. Since then, approximately 8.500 remote court hearings have been conducted, making considerable savings in costs related to transporting and escorting detainees to court hearings.

On October 26, 2020, the USAID Rule of Law Project organized a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Information Point installed in the Belgrade Higher Court to enable easy access for citizens to information necessary for their interactions with the court.

Pandemic or not, high-profile organized crime and corruption cases generate public attention and media coverage that judicial institutions cannot leave unattended and without a proper response. 

USAID Judicial Systems Strengthening Program delivered many milestones in partnership with judicial institutions in Kosovo related to improved efficiency, and greater transparency of court operations. The latest achievement includes the development of a case lookup tool.

Feteh organized a comprehensive training program on the new Administrative Procedure Law for Ministers, heads of administrative agencies, senior government officials, experts of administrative agencies, and Attorney General Office (AGO) attorneys and personnel.

The pandemic has changed the way we function in both our private and professional lives in more ways than one. Operating in a virtual environment has also become a reality for Kosovo courts this summer as the first remote hearing took place in the Basic Court of Ferizaj in July.

With the assistance of the USAID Justice Systems Strengthening Programe, the courts in Kosovo have succeeded in institutionalizing efficient procedures and resources to help with the problem of case backlog. 

Our Judiciary Against Corruption Activity (JACA) in Bosnia and Herzegovina donated $2,200.00 worth of personal protective equipment to the Sarajevo Municipal Court to enable a safer environment for court staff and visitors.

To support the safe reopening of the Federal Courts to the public, as well as the safe operations of the Attorney General’s Office, USAID’s Feteh Activity in Ethiopia provided COVID-19 personal protective equipment which was equally distributed between the two institutions.

For the past three years, the USAID Judicial Systems Strengthening Program was working with the stakeholders in Kosovo judicial institutions on introducing a range of tools that would help with managing the caseload and preventing the inflation of courts' case inventories.

In July 2020, the Government of Serbia adopted the new 2020-2025 Judicial Development Strategy. Intensive technical assistance extended by the USAID Rule of Law Project led to an inclusive consultative process and the new reform framework for the Serbian judiciary.

USAID Rule of Law Project in Serbia supports different electronic services for the Serbian judiciary, including the electronic notice board for the enforcement procedure, and upgrades to the existing case management systems in courts and the State Attorney’s Office.

The USAID Judiciary Against Corruption Activity (JACA) conducted an on-line workshop for court presidents, chief prosecutors, and public relations officers to discuss challenges the pandemic has posed to communication in courts and prosecutor's offices.

The judiciary’s new Performance Dashboard is a major step forward for Kosovo in judicial transparency and accountability. Citizens of Kosovo, and other stakeholders, are now able to get insight into courts’ and judges’ performance in accordance with four key indicators.

Seeking ways to help Serbian courts with their everyday administrative tasks such as court fee calculation and processing, and service of process, our USAID Rule of Law Project worked on identifying ICT solutions for streamlining the business process in courts.

Access to accurate information is critical in curbing misinformation about COVID-19, helping people understand their individual rights and liberties, and ultimately helping keep themselves safe and prevent the spread of the virus.

With USAID support, through the Judicial Systems Strengthening Program, the Kosovo Judicial Council has a new, improved and upgraded website as of mid-April, with a more user-friendly interface, better structured information, and press releases for the media and the public.

The USAID Judiciary Against Corruption Activity maintained its close partnership with judicial institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina amid the COVID-19 pandemic, extending intensive technical assistance for handling high-profile anti-corruption and organized crime cases. 

In March 2019, the Government of Ethiopia enacted the Civil Society Organization Proclamation, which has fundamentally changed the establishment, type, and operation of CSOs in Ethiopia, lifting the heavy restrictions on activities promoting human rights and democracy.