Annual Progress Report FY3: Programa para el Fortalecimiento de Instituciones de Justicia Penal Estatal (ConJusticia)

The program supports institutions that play a key role in the continuous improvement of the Criminal Justice System (CJS) at the state level, such as State Attorneys General Offices and State Courts. ConJusticia facilitates collaboration between justice sector institutions, the private sector, academia, bar associations, civil society organizations, and the general public to achieve three objectives: individual state justice institutions are stronger and more effective, particularly in prosecuting high-priority cases; coordination and collaboration are improved between institutions and local actors across CJSs; and sustainable partnerships with diverse actors are built to contribute to citizen co-responsibility. The program operates in eight target states, including Chihuahua, Coahuila, Hidalgo, Nayarit, San Luis Potosí, Sonora, Quintana Roo, and Zacatecas, with Guanajuato and Querétaro as allied states. ConJusticia's efforts focus on building the capacity of state-level institutions, promoting transparency and accountability, and engaging citizens in the justice process. The program also supports the development of policies and procedures that promote the rights of victims and witnesses. During FY3, ConJusticia made significant progress in advancing the implementation of the Criminal Prosecution Policy (CPP) in the target states. The program worked closely with state-level institutions to develop and implement policies and procedures that promote transparency and accountability in the CJS. ConJusticia also supported the establishment of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms in several states, which have helped to reduce the backlog of cases and improve access to justice for citizens. In addition to its work on the CPP and ADR, ConJusticia has made significant progress in promoting gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) in the CJS. The program has worked with civil society organizations and other stakeholders to develop policies and procedures that promote the rights of women and other marginalized groups. ConJusticia has also supported the establishment of women's justice centers in several states, which provide a safe and supportive environment for women to access justice. One of the key achievements of ConJusticia during FY3 was the development and implementation of a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system to track progress towards the program's objectives. The M&E system includes a set of indicators that measure the program's impact on the CJS, including the number of cases prosecuted, the number of convictions obtained, and the level of citizen satisfaction with the CJS. ConJusticia has also established a system for reporting and responding to complaints and concerns from citizens, which has helped to improve transparency and accountability in the program. Overall, ConJusticia has made significant progress in advancing the implementation of the CPP, promoting GESI, and improving transparency and accountability in the CJS. The program's efforts have helped to build the capacity of state-level institutions, promote citizen engagement, and reduce impunity in the target states.