UNODC guidebook to assist Viet Nam's judicial reforms
Hanoi (Viet Nam), 22 April 2014 - Participants discussed the development of an independent, efficient judiciary system after the launch of the UNODC Resource Guide on Strengthening Judicial Integrity, organized in Hanoi by UNODC Country Office of Viet Nam and the Justice Partnership Programme (JPP) of the EU Delegation in Vietnam.
The Resource Guide, which was translated into Vietnamese, provides practical information on how to build and maintain an impartial, transparent, and efficient justice system. It also introduced successful measures taken by a range of countries to strengthen their justice systems. The Guide offered recommendations, key ideas and case studies for reform strategies and implementation of action plans.
"This resource material is timely and important as it can contribute to the ongoing Judicial reform process in Vietnam," said Mr. Nguyen Quynh Lien, a Ministry of Justice representative. "The Guide offers valuable information on judicial independence; protection of citizens' rights; and judicial integrity and equality."
Mr. Dam Van Dao, Deputy Chief Judge, Administrative Court of the Viet Nam Supreme Court emphasized that the Judicial Resource Guide can provide a road map for the ongoing development of the Law on Court Organization - a view echoed by the UNODC Viet Nam Country Representative.
"The Judiciary plays an increasingly important role in Viet Nam in protecting rights of the people seeking Justice," said Ms. Zhuldyz Akisheva, Country Manager of UNODC in Vietnam. "This Guide reflects good practices and lessons learned from a wide range of countries so that Vietnam can select those that are more relevant to its national context."
According to Mr. Bryan Fornari, Deputy Head of Cooperation of the EU Delegation in Vietnam, "Viet Nam is undergoing an ambitious judicial reform process. We see judicial integrity and capacity as crucial to advancing judicial reforms. This Guide is a useful, practical tool that addresses judicial system challenges. wee are happy that we worked with UNODC and contributed, through the Justice Partnership Programme, to the publication of this Guide."
UNODC developed the Guide book in cooperation with the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative, the Research Institute on Judicial Systems (IRSIG-CNR) and the Intergovernmental Expert Group, with support from the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and the Governments of Norway and Sweden.
The presentation was attended by Vietnamese public officials, and representatives of universities, bar associations and media, and from international development partners.
