There was held a forum on the theme of “Achievements of Justice Sector in Azerbaijan: Look on the past and future” by the organization of the World Bank on June 4 in Baku. AZERTAJ informs that, more than 120 representatives, including official of the Cabinet of Ministers, deputies of Milli Mejlis, government members, high-level representatives of other state structures and courts, heads of the scientific and educational institutions and representatives of the diplomatic corps, business unions, civil society and World Bank participated in the forum. The event was dedicated to the exchange of ideas on notification of achievements gained during execution of reforms in justice sector to the large auditorium, future challenges and next steps providing consistency of positive results of cooperation of the World Bank with Azerbaijan. World Bank’s Regional Director for the South Caucasus Mrs. Mercy Tembon speaking in the forum noted effective cooperation between Azerbaijan and World Bank, informed about joint successful projects in the field of justice. She talked about the progress and achievements of justice sector of Azerbaijan and modernization plans of this sector. She noted that, Azerbaijan gained great successes on modernization of justice sector. Azerbaijan signed great achievements as a result of realized events from the point of view of efficiency, transparency and accessibility of the Azerbaijan courts. A number of electron justice services are being applied in other countries. Use of electron court technologies increased the productivity of judicial structures three times and gave chance to save means in this field. These successes allow increase of Azerbaijan’s international prestige and recognition to the world in the justice sector. A number of countries appeal to the World Bank for sharing positive experience of Azerbaijan in the field of justice.
It was brought to attention that, the President Ilham Aliyev signed a number of decrees on modernization of judicial system. Successful reforms in this field provided accessibility to the courts, had positive influence on decrease of procrastination and increased the efficiency of services. According to the Decree of the President Ilham Aliyev “On deepening of the reforms in the judicial-legal system” on April 3, 2019, it is considered to realize some important events. World Bank appreciates the works and achievements of Azerbaijan gained on modernization of justice field. The bank tries to support modernization processes within the framework of progressive justice services and modern judicial infrastructure projects. Head of state and leaders of different organizations approach with care to the justice sector, generally to the development of Azerbaijan. The next stage of these modernization processes considers appliance of
“Electron court” system in all the territory of the country, improvement of accesses to the justice services for women and youth and realization of works in the direction of propaganda of disputes’ alternative solution mechanisms for business. Then video clip was demonstrated about the results of the project.
The event was continued with panel debates on the theme of “Achievements gained within the framework of reforms made in justice sector in Azerbaijan, met difficulties, as well as future challenges and next steps” by the regulation of the World Bank’s country manager Navid Hasan Nagvi.
The Minister of Justice Fikrat Mammadov spoke in the debates and stated his assurance that, the debates dedicated to the successes of the reforms, problems and challenges in justice sector, will give a push to the development in this field. The Minister noted that, our country’s judicial-legal system was fully re-established in accordance with the international principles by the national leader Heydar Aliyev, who elected democratic development way for Azerbaijan. Three-graded independent judicial system was established, judges were elected by transparent procedures, judicial control institute was approved and judicial protection of everybody’s rights and freedom was provided.
It was informed that, from the date of election of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, improvement of judicial system and modernization for complying with the European standards was started by the political will of the head of state Ilham Aliyev. Self-governing body of judicial power, independent structure – Judicial-Legal Council was established and all judicial issues were referred just to its authorities. For the purpose of simplification of appeals and accessibility to the courts, a number of courts were established, including courts of appeal and economic courts in the regions. Administrative justice, playing an important role in protection of human rights, started functioning; number of judges and judiciary officials was increased twice. For the purpose of strengthening of independence of judicial power, progressive annexes and amendments were made to the legislation by taking into account the international experience; the authorities of the Judicial-Legal Council were enlarged regularly.
The minister specially stressed the achievements gained as a result of joint projects with the World Bank, while talking about successes. He stated that, new and modern buildings constructed within this project were supplied with all necessary infrastructures on appliance of “Electron court” information system according to the Order of the President on February 13, 2014. At present, 60 percent of 111 courts joined this system. Some components of the “Electron court” information system are currently applied successfully.
It was noted that, measures were done on establishment of disputes’ alternative solution system within the projects with the World Bank, strengthening of institutional and managerial potential of the institute of advocacy, justice and judicial structures, recommendations were prepared basing on international experience on different fields by supporting justice reforms. Single Electron Portal of the judicial system established as a result of cooperation and functioning for about eight years has great significance. The citizens may get information about the courts and judges, may appeal to the courts electronically, may familiarize with the examples of court documents and use other opportunities through this portal, which serves for provision of transparency in judicial activity and distinguished with its functionality.
It is not accidentally that, the World Bank evaluated joint project as one the most successful projects and announced it a winner of nomination “Establishment and appliance of innovative methods for the purpose of rendering high-quality services to the citizens”. All these are real manifestation of successful result of the works realized within the framework of the project. The Minister expressed his gratitude to the representatives of the World Bank, who have pains in gaining these successes.
Fikrat Mammadov said that, today special attention is paid to the appliance of electron services, modern technologies and innovations in other fields of the justice and he brought to attention some innovations. He informed that, there was prepared special “Electron notary bag” with relate to increase of demand for mobile services. This bag allows making any notarial act anywhere and printing and presenting the documents. Other innovation is the electron justice kiosk. This kiosk allows making distant notarial acts in urgent cases. These kiosks will be installed in boundary, airports and seaports, railway stations. These installations allow rendering of 24-hour notarial services via video-contact and getting relative documents. Such kind of kiosk has been installed in the airport for about two months. The next innovation is the Azerbaijan product – mobile notary portfolio. You may establish electron notary cabinet by loading relative program to the telephone and may get information about notarial activity. As well as, according to the Order of the President on humanization of the punishment policy on February 10, 2017, there was established probation service for the purpose of effective organization of execution of alternative punishments for deprivation of liberty. There was determined new type of punishment like limitation of liberty and appliance of electron control means was started. These devices were produced in the country during a short time and 1500 prisoners were applied electron bangles.
Notwithstanding that, these innovations were applied during a short time, they have already caused international interest.
Fikrat Mammadov said that, the reforms realized in our country are appreciated by notable international organizations. Positive experience of the Ministry of Justice is distributed and Azerbaijan is awarded with different rewards. Form of election of candidates for the position of the judge is recommended to the other countries as a positive example for its transparency by the European Council and European Union. Our country participated in the competition with the project “Pulse of the court: revolution in administration” and won the award “Crystal scales of justice”.
The minister brought to attention that, today important achievements are signed in all fields of public life by the leadership of the President Ilham Aliyev, significant transnational and regional projects are realized successfully. Our country moved forward for 32 steps and gained the 25th place in the World Bank’s “Doing Business 2019” report and entered to the line of the most reformist 10 countries. Today our country lives new development period. There are implemented many social-oriented important events serving for improvement of the citizens’ welfare on the initiative of the First Vice-president of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the president of Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva.
It was informed that, the Decree of the head of state “On deepening of the reforms in the judicial-legal system” on April 3, 2019 is the main composite part of the reforms realized in the country. This Decree is the program-character “road map” having exclusive importance and considering solution of actual problems in this filed. Main duties of the decree are development entrepreneurship, enlargement of appeals to the courts, prevention of intervention to judicial activity, increase of efficiency of execution, elimination of procrastination cases, decrease of workload of the judges and solution of other problems.
“Concrete duties were committed to the relative state authorities on full appliance of “Electron court” and “Electron execution” jointly worked with the World Bank and improvement of justice and court infrastructure. Important law projects packet were prepared and submitted to the Milli Mejlis and has already been discussed. Large public debates are held by presence of civil society and Mass Media representatives on the issues arising from execution of the Decree. Today’s forum will give a push to this work. I am sure that, World Bank’s support will have special importance in realization of forthcoming duties in accordance with modern challenges and will be an important gift for the development of Azerbaijan justice” – minister of justice Fikrat Mammadov said.
