Building Judicial Capacity

Efficient, equitable and accessible justice systems are the lifeblood of the rule of law. For many years, building judicial capacity in the developing world was IDLO's sole area of intervention.

Today, while our mission and expertise has greatly expanded, we remain faithful to that early purpose. Building capacity in the judiciary is still the bulk of what we do, and what we are most recognized for. We do this in a variety of legal systems and traditions, working with local and international partners, with a strong emphasis on transition societies.

In the words of Kyrgyz Supreme Court Chair and IDLO interlocutor Feruza Z. Djumasheva, "Without successful judicial reforms, there will be no economic or social reform."

South Sudan: Grappling with a New Legal System

Two years after becoming the world’s newest nation in 2011, South Sudan was plunged into fresh fighting. The conflict between government and rebel forces has displaced at least one-and-half million people. Some two-and-a-half million are facing severe food shortages.

Montenegro: Further Steps Towards EU Compatibility

The EU has called on candidate country Montenegro to intensify efforts to consolidate the rule of law, fight organized crime and reduce corruption.

Director-General Meets Mongolian President to Boost Ties

IDLO Director-General Irene Khan met Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj and Minister of Foreign Affairs Purevsuren Lundeg in Davos, Switzerland on 22 January 2015, to strengthen collaboration.

Tajikistan Capital Sees Revival of Law Library

One of the key elements of IDLO’s Commercial Law Judicial Training Program in Tajikistan is the establishment of a commercial law section at the Judicial Training Center (JTC) library in Dushanbe.

Justice in Constitutional Transitions

IDLO has joined forces with International IDEA, the Stockholm-based Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, to organize an ambitious workshop on the role of the judiciary in constitutional transitions.

IDLO and ICC Strengthen Transitional Justice in West Africa

IDLO, in partnership with the International Criminal Court (ICC) and selected judicial training institutes and bar associations of francophone West Africa, has organized a pilot regional training seminar for defense counsel and other legal professionals in Dakar, Senegal.

Strengthening Justice Institutions in South Sudan

The conflict that erupted in South Sudan at the end of last year triggered sudden and massive changes throughout the fabric of South Sudanese society. It has inflamed the political and ethnic fracture lines that already existed across the country, resulting in gross human rights violations and adding pressure to an already challenged justice delivery system.

Workshop: Enforcing Legal Decisions in Mongolia

IDLO, along with the Ministry of Justice of Mongolia and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, will host an international workshop from September 11-12 in Ulaanbaatar to discuss the new Mongolian draft Judicial Decision Enforcement Act. It will be attended by inter

Course: Enhancing the South Sudan Judiciary

As part of the EU-funded project entitled "Enhancing the Capacity of the Judiciary of South Sudan", the IDLO South Sudan Field Program Office is organizing and delivering an 11-week training course on Criminal Procedure, Civil Procedure, Evidence, Judicial skills and the English language for a group of 25 newly appointed members of the Judiciary of South Sudan, currently serving as judicial assist

Biodiversity: A Legal Grounding in Benefit Sharing

This July as every late July, many Romans fled their city. In their place came hundreds of thousands of international visitors. For the overwhelming majority, the trip was about relaxation; for others, it was about studying and a sense of public mission.

Key Initiatives

Supporting Criminal Justice Sector Reform in Ukraine Phase IV

Despite reform efforts undertaken by the Government of Ukraine after the Maidan Revolution in 2014, Ukrainian citizens continue to regard criminal justice stakeholders with deep distrust. In 2019, the presidential and snap parliamentary elections resulted in a shift of the political environment, creating an opportunity to meaningfully advance anti-corruption reforms.
Somalia Joint Justice Program

In Somalia, alternative justice mechanisms remain the main providers of justice services for lack of formal justice institutions. However, these justice mechanisms can be discriminatory particularly against women, youth and minority clans.
Supporting commercial justice sector reforms in Kenya

Justice within the context of commercial law is premised on the fact that an effective commercial justice system meets and facilitates the specialized needs of the business community and the private sector at large. However, there are persistent challenges related to the dispensation of commercial justice in Kenya.
Strengthening the capacity to investigate human rights violations in Yemen

Yemen, one of the poorest countries in the Arab world, has been devastated by armed conflict since September 2014. The conflict has received limited international coverage and human rights violations and violations under international humanitarian law suffered by the civilian population have been grossly underreported. All parties to the conflict have been linked to serious violations of international law, with inadequate accountability mechanisms in place to ensure justice for victims.
Strengthening the Capacity of National Partners in Economic Laws in Jordan

In recent years Jordan has taken significant steps toward promoting economic development, including through strengthening rule of law. Judicial specialization in relevant areas, while promoting an enabling environment for capacity development within the relevant judicial institutions is crucial to maximize the impact of those efforts and ensure sustainability. At the same time, attention has been given to encouraging entrepreneurship, in particular women entrepreneurs, as a means to achieve economic growth.