Why a Judicial Reform Network?

Over the last two decades, an unprecedented number of countries have undertaken significant judicial reforms. Various forces are increasing the demand for independent, accountable, and transparent judiciaries. These forces include regional and global economic integration, democratization, and a common international agenda on shared goals such as fighting crime, corruption, terrorism, reducing poverty, and improving access to healthcare, education and justice. At the same time, lessons learned, model pilot programs, and best practices have developed in many countries. New technologies now make it possible to collect, share, and disseminate valuable information, in real time, within countries, regions and the global judicial reform community.

The ability to obtain this information in a timely, targeted manner, from various sources and countries, is critical for judicial reformers throughout the world. If we are to learn from and support each other in making judicial independence and the rule of law a reality, and if we are to fulfill our constitutional obligations and international responsibilities, we must have expeditious and timely access to such information.

What is JRN21?

The Judicial Reform Network in the 21st Century (JRN21) is established to serve as a pilot project for what will hopefully in a short time become a global judicial reform network. All our judicial colleagues are invited to participate, as we have much to learn from, and share with, other judiciaries around the world.

The basic objective of the JRN21 is to promote the sharing of high priority, high quality judicial reform policy and programming information, as well as to dialogue with our judicial colleagues, in a concerted, mutually supportive effort to promote judicial independence and the rule of law.

What are the Primary Activities of JRN21?

JRN21 shall collect, collate and disseminate the documents and papers from meetings and activities on judicial reform worldwide. The primary tool in this activity is electronic information through the JRN21 website, which shall serve as the forum for knowledge sharing, discussion and information dissemination. In short, the JRN21 website will the electronic encyclopedia on judicial reform.

JRN21's initial and primary focus will be on high priority issues of common regional interest. This includes information, policies and programs designed to promote judicial independence, transparency, accountability, and integrity, as well as to formulate judicial budgets and judicial career systems.

How Does JRN21 Communicate?

JRN21 communicates primarily by electronic means, operating through an English language information-sharing website. As demand requires and resources allow, the website will include other languages, including English translations of all key documents. JRN21 tools will include targeted e-mailings, electronic forums, discussion groups, and bulletin boards.

JRN21 aims to facilitate networking and access to relevant judicial reform information, including treaties, laws, lessons learned and best practices reports, pilot programs, case studies, and country, regional and global research papers. It will also include links to existing constitutional and legal databases, ongoing and planned judicial reform projects and resource and key contact information for reformers and organizations worldwide. In addition, it will include resource links to other relevant regional and global electronic networks, databases, electronic training programs and websites, as well as key NGOs, regional and global organizations, donors and professional associations. These links and easy access to related web pages and regional and global networks will enable JRN21 participants to access a wide range of documents, organizations and individuals around the world.

he Program Management Office (PMO) of the Philippine Supreme Court shall serve as the JRN21 Secretariat with the responsibility for developing and maintaining the JRN21 website.