Skopje, 18 September 2024 (MIA) - All 4 Fair Trials coalition presented on Wednesday in Skopje the recommendations and action plan for improving the situation in judiciary, prepared as part of a project on improving stakeholder participation in the judiciary reform process. The recommendations and the action plan were developed after consultations with judges and public prosecutors who highlighted the aspects of the functioning of the judicial system.

"We started a process through which we wanted to provide a platform where judges and public prosecutors could coordinate with each other, agree on a common position regarding those important problems and issues they consider essential, and offer recommendations related to the executive, legislative, and judicial power of judges and public prosecutors themselves, aimed at improving the efficiency and speed of criminal proceedings and the rule of law. Especially those criminal procedures which the public often follows and through which they get information about the work of the courts," said All 4 Fair Trials Executive Director, Darko Avramovski.

Some of the recommendations concern the change of practices and methods of prosecutors and judges.

"Changing the way main debates are managed and run, dynamics scheduled, organized, including all actions carried out during main debates in hearings. Changes in the way of writing and communicating rulings and charges, improving cooperation of the Public Prosecutor's Office with other prosecution authorities, such as the experts. The Ministry of Interior, police, and all other stakeholders with influence. However, there are also recommendations concerning the legislative branch, i.e. specific legislative changes, but also recommendations that concern both executive and the legislative branches, and are aimed at improving equipment and staffing of courts and public prosecutors. Not just with judges and prosecutors but with all the other expert and support staff that they should have at their disposal,” Avramovski pointed out.

These recommendations will be further used as a document. The coalition announced that they have scheduled several meetings with representatives of most institutions, as well as the professional associations of employees in these institutions.

"The document can be used for all reform processes or any further developments to get a view of the unified opinion of many of the judges and public prosecutors who want to participate in this process," Avramovski added.

Sixty judges and public prosecutors took part in the consultation process and the preparation of the recommendations for improving the situation in judiciary. ssh/nn/

Photo: MIA