What is the APJRF?
The Asia Pacific Judicial Reform Forum (APJRF) is a network of 49 superior courts and justice sector agencies in the Asia Pacific Region who have joined together to contribute to judicial reform in the region. It resulted from the Manila Declaration on Judicial Reforms in 2005, which called for a forum to learn from judicial reform successes and failures.


What is the APJRF’s purpose?
The APJRF’s purpose is to create a network to support Asia Pacific jurisdictions committed to advancing judicial reform.


What projects has the APJRF been working on?
From 2007 to 2009, the main focus was on developing a handbook of practical tools to help member countries implement judicial reform programs. The APJRF received funding from the United Nations Democracy Fund to facilitate this. The Handbook was published in 2009 and has been launched throughout the region.
[Further details, and an electronic copy of the publication…]

Commencing in 2010, the APJRF has been planning for a fourth meeting to focus on the use of technology to improve court performance. [Details of the 4th APJRF Meeting, Beijing 25-28 October 2010...]

 

APJRF Secretariat
The APJRF Secretariat is chaired by the Honourable Justice Kenneth Hayne AC. It consists of representatives from Australia, the Supreme Court of the Philippines and the UNDP Regional Centre in Bangkok. The members of the Secretariat have previously designed and implemented law and justice development assistance programmes in the Asia Pacific and beyond.


Partnerships
The APJRF is working in partnership with the UNDP Regional Centre in Bangkok. Many other organisations have indicated their support for APJRF activities, including the: Conference of Chief Justices of Asia and the Pacific; International Commission of Jurists; Transparency International; International Development Law Organisation; LAWASIA; International Organisation for Judicial Training; Asia Pacific Judicial Educators Forum; International Association of Women Judges; Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute;Council of Chief Justices of Australia and New Zealand; Australian Bar Association and the Law Council of Australia.


Results
The work of the APJRF will increase opportunities for judicial reform in the Asia Pacific Region, and develop collective solutions to meet challenges facing the judiciary by:

  • sharing knowledge on judicial reforms
  • creating a common vision for judicial development
  • supporting partnerships with organisations and institutions
    supporting human rights-based justice reforms
  • developing practical tools for successful judicial reform and supporting country level implementation.

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  © Copyright 2009, Asia Pacific Judicial Reform Forum | Email: apjrfsecretariat@hcourt.gov.au