Ameria implementing courts monitoring services program

YEREVAN, May 15. /ARKA/. Ameria CJSC is now implementing Courts Monitoring Services program commissioned by Armenia’s justice ministry, the press office of Ameria told ARKA News Agency on Tuesday. 

The program is funded by a Japanese government grant made available through the World Bank.

The program calls for working out a methodology for monitoring judicial activity by using the best international practice and for introducing a similar system in Armenia. 

Introduction of such a system aimed at improvement courts’ work was prompted by the need for further development of the justice institutions and for enhancement of public confidence in them. 

The aim of the project is to upgrade effectiveness of judicial services as well as to enhance transparency and accountability. 

All the peculiarities of Armenian judicial system will be taken into account in the course of this project implementation. 

David Sargsyan, legal practice director of Ameria Group, said that Ameria has many years’ experience in implementation of such consulting projects, and this program is a logical continuation of previous projects. 

“Some progress is already seen, and I hope for further achievements,” he said. 

The program consists of several thematic cycles, which include the study of the existing approaches in courts monitoring, the best international practice, elaboration of methodologies and its testing and introduction. 

Ameria will closely cooperate with state beneficiaries, the Armenian Bar Association and other representatives of the civil society. 

On May 11 and 12, after completion of the first stage, a seminar was held as part of the program for presenting international achievements in this area and for discussing the elaboration of new mechanisms fit for Armenia. 

Representatives of the Armenia’s justice ministry, judicial department, bar association, appeal civil court, ombudsman office and international organizations.

Judges and journalists attended the event as well. 

Experts at Ameria spoke about similar practices in France, Italy, the Netherlands, Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, England and Wales. 

Ameria will summarize all the proposals and will use them for elaboration of the project, which will be put to public discussion. 

“The problem is that judges should be accountable, and the public at large should have opportunities and instruments for controlling judicial activities, including those of particular courts and judges,” said Arthur Tunyan, director of the office for implementation of judicial programs. “Today there are no clear mechanisms for conduction of monitoring by the society, the bar association or other state institutions.”

The only instrument is scant statistical data, which are being processed and presented to the public by the judicial department. 

“I think neither their quality nor their quantity is sufficient,” Tunyan said. “International practice tends to a wider publication of statistical data and to giving answers to questions which are of concern of the public.” The program will be completed by the end of this year. 

Ameria, one of the first and fast-developing investment banking groups in Armenia, provides a wide range of financial, management and legal consulting services, which provide financial and management support to corporate clients.

 

Ameria that was established in 1998 is a financial, legal and strategic consultant and partner to clients in public and private sectors as well as to international organizations in Armenia and South Caucasus. -0---