Civic engagement for a functional judiciary system and access to justice in Albania Project Summary and Achievements GENERAL INFO ABOUT THE PROJECT Malësi e Tropojë Madhe START AND END DATE: 1st January 2016 – 30th September 2019 Has Fushë-Arrëz Shkodër Pukë TOTAL BUDGET: 1.284.093,41 euros Kukës Vau i Dejës Lezhë Mirditë Dibër PROJECT AIM: To contribute to the empowerment of civil society in Mat actively participating and influencing the proper functioning of Kurbin Krujë Klos Bulqizë Durrës the judiciary system in Albania Vorë Kamëz Shijak Tiranë Librazhd Kavajë PROJECT COMPONENTS: capacity building for Civil Society Rrogozhinë Elbasan Peqin Prrenjas Divjakë Cërrik Organizations (CSOs), sub-granting scheme, networking and Belsh Lushnjë Pogradec Gramsh Pustec advocacy Ura Kuçovë Vajgurore Maliq Fier Roskovec Patos Berat Devoll Mallakastër Korçë AREA OF INTERVENTION: municipalities (40). Belsh, Berat, Delvine, Poliçan Skrapar Selenicë Memaliaj Këlcyrë Diber, Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Fushë-Arrëz, Gjirokastër, Gramsh, Kolonjë Vlorë Tepelenë Përmet Has, Kamëz, Kavaja, Këlcyrë, Klos, Kolonjë, Konispol, Korca, Libohovë Himarë Gjirokastër Kruja, Kucova, Kukes, Kurbin, Lezhe, Malesi e Madhe, Librazhd, Delvine Dropull Lushnje, Mat, Permet, Pogradec, Puke, Roskovec, Saranda, Selenice, Sarande Finiq Shkodra, Tepelene, Tirana, Tropoja, Vau I Dejes, Vlora, Vore. Konispol INSTITUTIONS INVOLVED: 51 9 53 11 19 Justice Institutions State Institutions Local Administrative Universities Primary and High Institutions Schools BENEFICIARIES: Trainings, workshops and roundtables for professionals 3.791 1.580 2.211 and institutions: ADULTS Male Female Awareness activities on legal issues through social media 208.336 107.357 100.979 and TV BENEFICIARIES Male Female Legal Education (trainings, workshops, informative sessions) for citizens (especially vulnerable groups): 15.701 6.932 8.769 ADULTS Male Female 3.511 1.399 2.112 MINORS Boys Girls Legal support: 1.905 492 1.413 ADULTS Male Female 682 408 274 MINORS Boys Girls Psychological support and other services (on the job training, medical assistance, basic education): 194 90 104 ADULTS Male Female 108 82 26 MINORS Boys Girls KEY RESULTS PER PROJECT COMPONENT Capacity building for CSOs • Training on organizational development and project management for 80 CSOs representatives (civil society organizations). It included topics as: legal framework of CSOs; internal functioning of CSOs; strategic planning; organizational assessment; staff development; project cycle management; logical framework; budget; monitoring and evaluation process. • Training on international guidelines and best practices on access to justice, monitoring justice and juvenile justice for the 34 CSOs that were selected within sub-granting scheme • A two days’ workshop with participation of 27 sub-grantees to share best practices/ findings/ achievements/ challenges/ recommendations of the sub-granted projects. • Training for the 27 sub-grantees to support CSOs in increasing their knowledge and skills on advocacy, lobbying and fund raising. It included topics as: concepts of advocacy; public outreach and their respective elements; developing and delivering advocacy message; building alliances, network and coalition; successful national/local experiences of CSOs on advocacy and public outreach campaigns. Sub-Granting Scheme The Action provided funds to 34 CSOs for the implementation of small-scale interventions in two areas: monitoring of justice (1) and access to justice (2). 1) Monitoring of Justice • Assessment report on the courts and detention centers for minors that highlights the barriers and challenges to access to justice for this special category; • Monitoring reports on the services provided by several Courts that underline their weaknesses and related countermeasures based on citizens’ perception; • Monitoring report on the performance of the Administrative Courts that reports figures and facts on their functioning and compliance with fair trial standards; • Technical tool for monitoring of judicial integrity with specific indicators on aspects as efficiency, independence, impartiality, transparency and accountability; • Monitoring report on the alternative sentences executed by the Probation Services that highlights the weaknesses and needed countermeasures in 6 districts; • Monitoring report on the performance and transparency of Tropoja District Court that includes weaknesses and related recommendations on the provided services; • Assessment report on the conditions of prisoners in detention and pre-detention facilities based on their feedback in 2 regions (Kurbin and Permet); • Monitoring report on the establishment and functioning of new governing bodies as the CAJ, HJC and HPC that includes shortcomings and recommendations; • Monitoring report on the performance of Lushnja District Court based on collection of data and citizens’ perception; • Monitoring report on the quality of court decisions on juvenile cases in two Courts (Dibra and Mat) providing weaknesses and some recommendations; • Monitoring report on the length of proceedings and quality of court decisions in 3 District Courts (Tropoja, Lezhe, Kukes); • Monitoring report on the respect of victims’ rights at trials in 3 Penal Courts (Saranda, Permet, Gjirokastra) with a focus on the juveniles; • Monitoring report on the execution of the financial obligation for children in two district courts (Vlore, Saranda); • Study report on court decisions/protection orders related to domestic violence and gender based violence; • Study on the actual challenges faced by LGBTI community in accessing justice; • Road map for institutions on how to make the justice system more accessible for persons with disabilities. All the monitoring and assessment reports produced by them have been shared with relevant stakeholders during closing events or dedicated meetings in order to promote specific changes on the legislative front and at policy level. 2) Access to Justice • Provision of free legal aid for vulnerable groups: women and children victims of violence (GBV and DV), LGBTI people, patients, juveniles in conflict with the law, families under blood feud. It includes legal services, paralegal services, phone- line and web-line, mobile units and legal counselling. • Provision of mediation services: victim offender mediation and support to the execution of alternative measures; establishment of community mediation groups. • Provision of psychological services: provision of psychological counselling for vulnerable group in contact with justice system (women, girls, juveniles, perpetrators of domestic violence, blood feud, LGBT). • Juvenile justice: provision of services for children in conflict with the law to support them in the process of the reintegration into society (on job training program, informative sessions with juveniles and their parents on juvenile justice issues and related legislation). • Awareness activities: legal informative sessions, campaigns, training sessions, distribution of leaflets and booklets, production of videos, open days, social media advertising, TV programs, TV spots, media articles, mobile units. Main topics: national and international legislation in defense of victims of violence and trafficking, blood feud, laws and system of protection for LGBTI young people, GBV and DV legislation, mediation; access to justice for vulnerable groups (Roma community, chronic patients, persons with disabilities, juveniles); human rights and child rights. • Training of justice professionals (judges, prosecutors, lawyers, prison and probation staff, police officers, mediators) local institutions, CSOs, students and journalists on: restorative justice, case identification and protection of child rights; GBV and DV legislation; access to justice for vulnerable groups; rights of victims of criminal offences; legal issues as child registration, early marriage, divorce; fair trial standards; judicial communication. 3) Networking and Advocacy • Establishment and functioning of a Civil Society network (Coalition Justice for All) in cooperation with USAID (“Justice for All” project) with the aim of increasing the effectiveness, independence and transparency of the Albanian justice system by carrying out advocacy initiatives, by monitoring the judicial institutions and by providing public legal education (34 members). • Key Advocacy Results: 1. Ten public statements and six requests, drafted and released, to relevant institutions aiming at the proper implementation of justice reform and transparency and accountability toward the public. 2. Participation and inputs in all consultation tables organized by the Ad hoc Parliamentary Commission in the framework of the justice reform. Out of 872 recommendations presented by the Coalition to the Parliament, 831 of them were included in the legal package and approved in December 2017. 3. National Strategy for Public Legal Education (NSPLE) and the related National Action Plan (NAP) drafted upon request of the Ad Hoc Parliamentary Commission in order to make effective the related policy foreseen in the national strategy for the justice reform (approval by the Parliament in May 2019). 4. Advocacy campaign on free legal aid and mediation aiming at increasing citizens’ knowledge on the mentioned topics (33 Open Days organized at municipality level and TV and social media campaign to involve more beneficiaries). 5. High Level Forum with justice institutions representatives on “The Progress of the Justice Reform Implementation: Achievements