Quarterly Report: January 1 – March 31, 2021

The project's work plan focuses on four main objectives: improving the Public Ministry's ability to investigate and prosecute criminal cases, enhancing the effectiveness and coordination of the justice system, increasing transparency to improve the effectiveness and legitimacy of the justice system, and supporting judicial reform and oversight to strengthen the rule of law. Under Objective 1, the project supported the Public Ministry and other government institutions in inaugurating the Ixkem Integrated Assistance Model for Women Victims of Violence. This model brings together 15 government institutions to provide access to protection, justice, and support to women victims of violence and their families. The project also provided technical assistance to targeted specialized and district prosecutor's offices, resulting in the culmination of a case initiated in 2015, with the sentencing of 145 members of the Barrio 18 gang. The project's efforts under Objective 2 focused on improving the effectiveness and coordination of the justice system. Technical assistance was provided to various justice sector counterparts, particularly in the application of protocols and virtual tools to protect the health of users and officials during the pandemic. For example, the project's assistance to the Judicial Branch resulted in more than 3,600 virtual hearings in criminal and youth courts, as well as 166 virtual urgent investigative proceedings by the Court of Urgent Proceedings. Under Objective 3, the project collaborated closely with justice sector actors in Costa Rica to share experiences and insights on the implementation of open justice standards. Technical assistance was also provided to the Public Ministry's Verification and Analysis Unit, which verified a total of 127 personnel files for new staff, ensuring transparency and honesty of the candidates. The project's work under Objective 4 focused on supporting judicial reform and oversight to strengthen the rule of law. The project supported the outgoing Constitutional Court in the development and printing of its annual report, in compliance with open justice standards. Internal audits were also carried out in eight laboratories of the National Institute of Forensic Science to determine the level of compliance with International Organization for Standardization norms. The Justice and Transparency Project has made significant progress in advancing its work plan, despite ongoing challenges affecting the justice sector and the population as a whole. The project's efforts have resulted in improved access to justice for women victims of violence, enhanced effectiveness and coordination of the justice system, and increased transparency to improve the effectiveness and legitimacy of the justice system. The project's implementation of the Ixkem Integrated Assistance Model for Women Victims of Violence has brought together 15 government institutions to provide access to protection, justice, and support to women victims of violence and their families. This model has improved access to justice for women victims of violence, who often face significant barriers in accessing the justice system. The project's technical assistance to the Public Ministry and other government institutions has resulted in significant improvements in the investigation and prosecution of criminal cases. The culmination of a case initiated in 2015, with the sentencing of 145 members of the Barrio 18 gang, is a notable example of the project's impact. The project's efforts to improve the effectiveness and coordination of the justice system have resulted in the implementation of virtual hearings and urgent investigative proceedings, which have improved the efficiency and effectiveness of the justice system. The project's technical assistance to the Judicial Branch has resulted in more than 3,600 virtual hearings in criminal and youth courts, as well as 166 virtual urgent investigative proceedings by the Court of Urgent Proceedings. The project's collaboration with justice sector actors in Costa Rica has resulted in the sharing of experiences and insights on the implementation of open justice standards. The project's technical assistance to the Public Ministry's Verification and Analysis Unit has ensured transparency and honesty of the candidates for MP staff positions. The project's internal audits in eight laboratories of the National Institute of Forensic Science have determined the level of compliance with International Organization for Standardization norms. The project's implementation of an Analysis Unit on Irregular Migration has improved the analysis of data related to deportees, immigrants, country of origin, and the mechanisms used to enter Guatemala.