Workshop on ''Justice Sector Reforms; Achievements and New Challenges''

On 15-16 May, a workshop on ''Justice Sector Reforms; Achievements and New Challenges" was held under the chairmanship of Acting Minister of Justice Rustam Badasyan and Acting Chairperson of the Supreme Judicial Council Gagik Jhangiryan in Tsaghkadzor.

First Deputy Minister of Justice of the Republic of Armenia Kristinne Grigoryan, Deputies Suren Grigoryan and Armen Hovhannisyan, Secretary General of the Ministry of Justice Suren Galstyan, other members of the Supreme Judicial Council, Chairperson of the Court of Cassation Lilit Tadevosyan, Chairpersons of the Chambers of the Court of Cassation Ruzanna Hakobyan and Hamlet Asatryan, other judges of the Court of Cassation, Chairperson of the Civil Court of Appeal Nora Karapetyan, judges of the Civil Court of Appeal, the Criminal Court of Appeal and the Administrative Court of Appeal, Chairperson of the Administrative Court Aghasi Darbinyan, Chairperson of the Bankruptcy Court Garik Avagyan, judges of the courts of general jurisdiction, as well as Deputy Prosecutor General Srbuhi Galyan, representatives of the Ministry of Justice and the "Centre for Legislation Development and Legal Research" Foundation and others participated in the workshop organised by the "Centre for Legislation Development and Legal Research" Foundation of the Ministry of Justice.

Rustam Badasyan and Gagik Jhangiryan greeted the participants of the workshop, attached importance to such meetings and dialogues and wished everyone a productive discussion.

The Acting Minister also emphasised the role of judiciary in the justice sector reforms, attaching importance to the need of active co-operation of the representatives of the judiciary in achieving good results in the stage of reforms.

Turning to the issues on the agenda, Director of the Foundation Tigran Dadunts presented the main activities carried out during the last year within the scope of the judicial and legal reforms and the forthcoming programmes; Deputy Minister of Justice Armen Hovhannisyan and Head of the Department of Criminal Legislation, Penitentiary and Probation Policy Development Arpine Sargsyan presented the reforms made in the criminal and criminal procedure legislation sector, whereas Head of the Department for Drafting and Monitoring of Anti-corruption Policy Mariam Galstyan — the reforms made in the anti-corruption sector. Secretary General of the Ministry Suren Galstyan, in his turn, spoke about the opportunities and programmes for providing facility conditions necessary for the placement of new increased positions of judges. Deputy Director of the Foundation Lilit Petrosyan and the members of the Commission for Performance Evaluation of Judges presented the practical issues related to the new mechanism for performance evaluation of judges. A discussion was also held on the effectiveness and main legal regulations of establishment of an Administrative Chamber within the Court of Cassation. In addition, the current state of activities being implemented for introduction of e-justice was presented.

There were active discussions, exchange of ideas with regard to the issues presented, reaching an agreement on a number of topics for further detailed discussions.