Within five months we will examine the problems and challenges, and opportunities for change in justice, grouped into five steps.
At each step we will present a case study of real judicial life that embodies the fundamental systemic problems in the area. Through subsequent discussions we will discuss what could be possible solutions to the challenges. Each of the five ‘steps’ will end with a summary article that collect and summarize all the possibilities for positive change to which we’ll arrive at together.
We’re doing this because the debate about justice and justice reform is conducted in a narrow circle of experts and in a way excludes the general public. In society there is a lack of clarity regarding the specifics of the systemic problems of the judiciary, how specific deficits in justice affect individual life and the public good and how they can be solved.
As a result, public pressure to implement judicial reform is really weak and unstable, which is one of the greatest challenges in taking decisive action to improve justice in Bulgaria.
At MOVE.BG we believe that justice is a fundamental value in any society
A just society is not possible without an effective, complete judiciary working for the people. As a member state of the European Union, Bulgaria is obliged to provide ‘an area of freedom, security and justice’ (Art. 67 TEU) – aspects of democracy, yet Bulgarian institutions cannot guarantee this.
What are the objectives?
We need the inclusion of a broader range of citizens to get involved in the debate for justice reform and the efforts for its execusion. Therefore we need to:
- To present the problems of the judicial system in an innovative way, which allows more people to realise in the context of their individual life and interest.
- To trigger a public debate about the problems and the solutions for the judicial reform by offering ground and viewpoints broader than the expert judicial ones.
- To offer the possibility to citizens to recognize the solutions as their own and as such that would solve their practical problems.
Programme:
Starting as of March 2015 MOVE.BG decided to engage in the preparation and execution five informatial pieces which would correspond to the five strategic objectives of the updated strategy for continuation of the reform:
March: How do we reach realistic independence of the court and the judiciary system?
1) Introductory article – on the importance of magistrates' independence.
2) Holistic discussion How do we guarantee the independence of the court and the court system?
3) An overview article – 6th april
April: How do we secure a better management of the judicial system and its high effectiveness?
May: How to expose the potential of human resources in the judicial system and to guarantee the motivation, competence and social responsibility of judges, prosecutors and investiigators?
December: How to realize a modern penal policy and the necessary institutional and regulatory reforms?
January: How to secure the right of a just process and effective protection of human rights?
Each part consists of 3 modules:
1. Introductory article
2. Holistic discussion
3. An overview article
What will we achieve?
The implementation of the initiative and the inclusion of a maximum number of people will help strengthen the social movement for justice reform and expansion. Also, the five steps represent a for of tool for civic education in accessible language, which will contribute to a wider awareness of the underlying problems and the building a legal culture.We are led by the belief that our initiative for effective and sustainable change in the justice system will lead to qualitative changes in other public sectors and will become an effective guarantor of the rule of law and the reorganization of government and institutions in our country.
