Japan, PA and UNDP/PAPP inaugurate Jenin Court House – UNDP press release

PRESS RELEASE

Under the Auspices of H.E. President Abbas

The Government of Japan, High Judicial Council and UNDP inaugurate the

Jenin Court House

Ramallah, March 19th, 2009 – Under the Auspices of H.E. President Abbas, the Government of Japan, Palestinian High Judicial Council and the United Nations Development Programme/Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People inaugurated the courthouse complex in Jenin on Thursday, 19th March 2009. The inauguration ceremony, which attracted members of the bar association and mayors, was attended by Chief of Justice Mr. Issa Abu Sharar, Mr. Tetsushi Kondo, Head of the Japan Representative Office, H.E. Haruhisa Takeuchi, Ambassador of Japan and Mr. Roberto Valent, UNDP Deputy Special Representative.

The project, of approximately US$1.4 million is envisaged to enhance the public confidence in the judiciary sector, making the citizens more reliable to the courts, and strengthen the rule of law in the society. The project, including the construction and equipping of the two floor magistrates and first instance court, will allow the courthouse to review more cases and hence reduce the existing backlog. In addition to the installation of a case management system, the project will also generate employment in the Jenin area.

Mr. Kondo, Head of the Japan Representative Office stated,”It is our great pleasure to celebrate the completion of the Jenin Court House Project coinciding with the improvement of the security situation in Jenin.” It is essential for the establishment of the Judicial System that enjoys people’s trust. The rules of law and order cannot be achieved through deployment of security organizations alone. Enhancing the judicial system and the capacity building of law enforcement organizations are mutually necessary as a part of two wheels.” “I strongly hope that the people concerned in the Ministry of Justice and the High Judicial Council will make best use of this facility to firmly establish the rules of law in this region,” he added.

Mr. Roberto Valent, Deputy Special Representative of UNDP/PAPP, stated,” This project is about the creation of a forum for the efficient administration of justice and the technology and procedures that go along with it”. “An efficient civil court is a key building block for access to justice and rule of law, a precondition for confidence for investors and entrepreneurs, as well as an inspiration of national confidence at large,” he added.

In support of the Palestinian Reform and Development Plan, UNDP/PAPP has been playing a central role in several reform efforts not only in helping enhance the Palestinian Authority’s capacities but also in supporting local authorities and rural governments in their decentralization efforts. This project is part of a programme implemented by UNDP/PAPP in coordination with the Ministry of Justice and the High Judicial Council to assist in the construction of new courthouses in the occupied Palestinian territory. Till date, the Government of Japan has funded the first courthouse in Nablus and another in Khan Younis in Gaza.

For further information, please contact:

In Jerusalem: Dania Darwish, Communications Officer, Tel. +972-2-6268229 – e-mail: dania.darwish@undp.org. In New York: Sausan Ghosheh

Communication’s officer, Tel. +1 (212) 906-5382 – e-mail: sausan.ghosheh@undp.org. For more information on UNDP/PAPP see http://www.undp.ps .

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