Justice for All Project in Albania Quarterly Report: October 1, 2018 – December 31, 2018

The project, implemented by the East-West Management Institute, Inc. (EWMI), was funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and focused on streamlining court proceedings, promoting investigative journalism, and strengthening judicial leadership. One of the key components of the project was the implementation of the Justice Without Delays (JWD) initiative, which aimed to reduce the length of proceedings and increase the productivity of hearings in district courts. During the reporting period, the project collected data for the preparation of implementation reports in the district courts of Vlora, Fier, Berat, and Gjirokastra. The reports showed significant improvements in the efficiency of court proceedings, with the average length of proceedings reduced and the productivity of hearings increased. In Vlora District Court, the implementation report showed that 85% of hearings were productive, with the court reducing the average length of proceedings and increasing the productivity of hearings. However, the court did not manage to reach all the goals set in its action plan. The project collaborated with the court to establish follow-up actions to assist the court in reaching the established goals. In Fier District Court, the implementation report showed that the court managed to reach and partly surpass the goals set in its action plan, reducing the average length of proceedings and increasing the productivity of hearings. The findings from the criminal cases under the New Procedure Code showed that 84% of hearings were productive. In Berat District Court, the goals set in the action plan were reached and surpassed for both criminal and civil cases. The court clerk submitted her third and last report summarizing the length of proceedings and the reasons for postponements, as well as active measures taken by the court. The project also supported the implementation of JWD in additional courts, including Gjirokastra, Lushnja, Përmet, and Saranda. The Assistants to the Chief Judges of Korca, Durres, Lezha, Kavaja, Vlora, and Kurbin concluded their work in their respective courts during the reporting period. In addition to the JWD initiative, the project also focused on promoting investigative journalism and strengthening judicial leadership. The project supported the development of investigative journalism skills among journalists and the production of high-quality, fact-based investigative publications. The project also supported the establishment of the Albanian Forum of Women Judges (AFWJ) and provided on-the-job mentoring and advice to Faktoje, a fact-checking service. The project's activities were tracked against the expected results, which included the implementation of JWD in district courts, the promotion of investigative journalism, and the strengthening of judicial leadership. The project's progress was monitored through regular meetings with stakeholders, including the High Judicial Council (HJC) and the Ministry of Justice. Overall, the Justice for All Project in Albania made significant progress in improving the efficiency and transparency of the country's court proceedings. The project's activities contributed to the development of a more efficient and effective justice system, which is essential for promoting the rule of law and protecting the rights of citizens.