Judicial reform strategy reviewed
President Truong Tan Sang had a working session on July 31 with the Ministry of Justice’s Party committee to review the eight-year implementation of a Political Bureau resolution on judicial reform strategy.
The State leader, Head of the Central Steering Committee on Judicial Reform, was told that 35 percent of the total 178 laws and ordinances issued from June 2005 to June 2013 were directly related to judicial reform.
The Ministry of Justice itself compiled 22 out of 23 draft laws and ordinances on the organisation and operation of the judicial sector and got involved in the compilation of most laws and ordinances in the judiciary sector, thus institutionalizing viewpoints and orientations in Resolution 49-NQ/TW.
The sector fulfilled its task of making proposals on amendments and supplement to the 1992 Constitution with many contents relating to judicial reform.
In realizing the resolution’s instruction to strengthen judicial assistance activities, 62 bar associations were set up in 63 centrally-run cities and provinces, comprising of 8,500 lawyers and 3,500 interns.
At the same time, 47 out of 63 centrally-run cities and provinces set up forensic centres under the management of the municipal or provincial Health Departments.
Civil verdict execution agencies have been upgraded from central to grassroots levels, said the Ministry of Justice, adding that the Law University has trained nearly 28,000 students with improved quality.
However, there remain shortcomings and weaknesses to address, such as insufficient regulations concerning justice and judicial assistance and a lack of a strategic vision as well as slow law-making process.
In the time to come, the Party Committee of the Ministry of Justice will continue to advise the government on the development of institutions in the judicial sector.
It will actively take part in the amendment of the 1992 Constitution and work together with other agencies to build important draft laws in the judiciary sector.
From now to 2020, the focus of judicial reform will shift from institution building to law enforcement and judiciary assistance while standardizing State management models in law enforcement, notary service, examination and legal assistance.
Addressing the session, President Sang said the conclusion made at the meeting will serve as an important basis for the Political Bureau to make proper decisions.
The Ministry of Justice should collaborate with other relevant agencies to deal with the shortcomings and accelerate the implementation of tasks assigned by the Party, State and people.