Sector-wide coordination of the justice system strengthened and long-term reform strategy developed

Result 1 will contribute to structural reforms through the institutionalisation of a permanent coordinating and policy-making body at the national level through the Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC), supporting priority programmes and activities of the JSCC. Furthermore, roll-out of local mechanisms for coordination in the form of Justice Zones and the strengthening of communication between these two levels will be supported. A holistic approach to justice service delivery with the introduction of new structures for more evidence-based and inclusive policy-making, as well as systems-level performance monitoring and evaluation can fundamentally change the way the justice sector crafts policy and monitors performance. This can pave the way for government-owned sustainable reforms once adopted as part of a national development policy with sector recognition and sector budget support.

Backlog curtailed in courts and prosecution services and case management system streamlined and computerised (with focus on ‘justice zones’)

Result 2 will support activities towards the improved efficiency of individual justice sector agencies in the delivery of their services. Docket decongestion of 160 courts and 100 prosecution offices is recognized as a key step in justice sector reform. This paves the way for other reforms such as contniuous trial.

GOJUST will also work with partner institutions in streamlining case management processes through the conduct of studies, developing best practice guidelines, production of relevant manuals and the roll-out of electronic case management systems such as the eCourts.

Justice Sector agencies’ administrative and financial management systems improved

Result 3 seeks to strengthen court administration, human resource management, financial management, and high level performance management of the judiciary and the Department of Justice. This result area can be viewed as the institutional strengthening of key actors in the justice system in the capacity for and the appreciation of the need for structural reforms and evidence-based policy making. The general approach taken in this key result area is to determine the current initiatives of the Judiciary and the Department of Justice, and ensure that the interventions would complement and support these initiatives. Finally, it is anticipated that by supporting the process of justice sector-wide planning through the Philippine Development Plan (PDP), the performance governance system of the Judiciary and the Department of Justice will be improved.

Capacity Building for Human Rights Institutions

Result 4 is implemented by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and seeks to strengthen national/regional human rights institutions’ and CSOs’ capacity to promote accountability and fight impunity for major human rights violations.