Swedish National Courts Administration to implement training programme through Academy of Justice to increase professionalism of judges and public confidence in them

 Within the scope of ensuring transparency of the judicial system, today, Deputy Minister of Justice of the Republic of Armenia Grigor Minasyan and Director of the "Centre for Legislation Development and Legal Research" Foundation Tigran Dadunts received representatives of the Swedish National Courts Administration (SNCA) Björn Linden (head of the Project for expanding capacities of judges in Armenia to meet the new expectations of the judiciary and raising public confidence in the judiciary) and Ludvig Becking (SNCA Project Coordinator and Legal Consultant).

The representatives of the Swedish delegation expressed gratitude for the meeting and presented the projects that they intend to implement in Armenia within the scope of the Project for support to the judiciary.

In particular, the Swedish side expressed its willingness to share its experience in the justice sector, including in the directions of increase of the professionalism of judges and public confidence in them, and importance was attached to the role of the media therein.

The representatives of the Swedish National Courts Administration presented their training programme, which will be ongoing and will engage both practising judges and judge candidates. The trainings will be held through the Academy of Justice. Field experts will also be involved in the process.

In his turn, Deputy Minister Grigor Minasyan informed that the activities for implementation of judicial and legal reforms are already in progress in the Republic of Armenia.

The logistics equippedness of the Supreme Judicial Council, the need to carry out activities with the media and judges and other issues were also discussed in the context of ensuring transparency of the judicial system.

Grigor Minasyan expressed concern about the fact that there are currently vacancies for judges, but there are no applicants. With regard to this, the Swedish side underscored the need for increase of public confidence in the work of judges and strengthening of respect, as well as reduction of the number of sessions.

Both sides emphasised the importance of continuity of the co-operation.