- GCJ Network

PARTNERSHIP WITH JUDICIAL TRAINING INSTITUTES

We work closely with judicial training institutes (JTIs) across the region in the design, delivery and implementation of all Network activities.

In July 2022, we signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with each of the JTIs in the region, to officially mark the start of our collaboration to establish the GCJ Network.

By signing these bilateral agreements, the AIRE Centre has established cooperation with the JTIs in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, laying the foundations for the Network’s future activities.

Albanian School of Magistrates

Professor Sokol Berberi of the Albanian School of Magistrates said, after signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation:

“Gender Equality trainings and seminars in the Albanian School of Magistrates aim at impressing on the minds of magistrates that the effectiveness of gender equality legislation depends largely on its application and interpretation, as magistrates are strategically placed to determine such effectiveness by proper utilisation of this legislation in their judgments, particularly in promoting and enhancing women’s rights. The GCJ initiative further contributes to the positive value regional justice academies and schools have acquired through years of cooperation with the AIRE Centre. The AIRE Centre is one of the School’s oldest partners. Our cooperation dates back to 1999, when we organised training for judges and prosecutors, together with the Council of Europe. Enhancing our partnership with this Memorandum of Cooperation, once again, reiterates our willingness to continue working together towards implementing common professional training objectives, because judicial training is, indeed, a very important factor for combatting inequalities and injustices.”

Judicial and Prosecutorial Centre of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Director of the Judicial and Prosecutorial Centre of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Arben Murtezić said, after signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation:

“Today is an important day for a number of reasons. First, we are making another step towards strengthening regional cooperation, the importance of which requires no elaboration. Second, the very subject of the Memorandum, gender equality, is one of the key topics in any democratic society and no efforts should be spared to achieve it. We are glad that the AIRE Centre is the one supporting and moderating these activities, given their huge experience and the extremely positive experiences everyone in the region has had in cooperating with this world-renowned organisation.”

Judicial and Prosecutorial Centre of Republika Srpska

Director of the Judicial and Prosecutorial Centre of Republika Srpska Tomislav Čavić said, after signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation:

“We have been working continuously on building judges’ and prosecutors’ awareness of the need to train and educate themselves. I believe that we have achieved that goal over the past 20 years. Judges and prosecutors recognise the importance of continuously working and informing and bettering themselves. The fact that representatives of judicial academies and institutions from the entire region, as well as across Europe, are with us here today is yet another confirmation of our work. Today’s launch of the GCJ Network will ensure high quality judicial training to raise awareness of gender equality and suppress gender bias and stereotypes as causes of discrimination against women. Continuous judicial training will preclude the risk of gender bias and stereotypes undermining the impartiality of judges. Finally, courts are under the obligation to effectively protect the realisation of rights and freedoms that are related to gender equality and enshrined in international conventions and the relevant international instruments.”

Kosovo Justice Academy

Director of the Kosovo Justice Academy Enver Fejzullahu said, after signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation:

“The Kosovo Justice Academy is pleased to be part of the efforts to establish the Gender Champions in Judiciary Network (GCJ Network), which will be achieved today when the Memorandum of Cooperation is signed by the judicial academies and training centres in the region. Acknowledging the importance of trainings in the gender equality area, the Kosovo Justice Academy in 2017 started implementing trainings on gender equality and non-discrimination, and has ever since been providing it regularly to judges, prosecutors, and legal professionals in the judiciary and beyond. The trainings cover both substantive and procedural law governing property, employment, inheritance and governance.”

Montenegrin Centre for Training in Judiciary and State Prosecution

Ljiljana Lakić, Chairwoman of the Montenegrin Centre for Training in Judiciary and State Prosecution said, after signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation:

“The Montenegrin Centre for Training in Judiciary and State Prosecution, as the national institution for judicial training, has long recognised the importance of continuously expanding knowledge of gender equality, both through the initial training of candidates for judges and prosecutors and the continuous training of judges and state prosecutors. I have to emphasise that the AIRE Centre is one of our first and most important partners. Our cooperation, which began in 2000, has included activities to hone the skills and knowledge in applying the European Convention on Human Rights and the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights regarding all areas relevant to the work of the judiciary.”

North Macedonian Academy for Judges and Public Prosecutors

Director of the North Macedonian Academy for Judges and Public Prosecutors Natasha Gaber-Damjanovska said, after signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation:

“Gender equality is enshrined as a civil and political right in the North Macedonian Constitution. Considering that equal rights of women and men are crucial for the overall development and progress of society, the Academy has included gender equality training both in its initial and continuous training programmes. The further advancement of these rights requires greater awareness of gender equality and a decline in the number of gender-based crimes. This is why the Academy has, in tandem with its international partners, including the AIRE Centre, been advocating focus on these European values by the professional community, particularly the judiciary.”

Serbian Judicial Academy

Director of the Serbian Judicial Academy Nenad Vujić said, after signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation:

“Gender equality trainings are one of the programme priorities of the Serbian Judicial Academy. They are part of both the curriculum of initial training for future judges and prosecutors and of the continuous training of judges and prosecutors. Regional cooperation with the support of the AIRE Centre, a years-long partner of the judicial training institutions in the region, will further improve gender equality trainings, as well as judicial and prosecutorial practices concerning this important issue.”