Judicial Reform Handbook Project: 2007-2009

The initial activity undertaken by the APJRF was the development of a judicial reform publication. The volume is practical in focus, developing know-how based on the analysis of actual and relevant reform experiences from within the region.

The APJRF received funding from the United Nations Democracy Fund, and implemented the Judicial Reform Handbook project in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme regional mission in Bangkok as executing agency. The Handbook was developed through the collaboration of member countries over 2007-2009. By promoting the direct participation of members in the design and development of the Handbook, relevance to individual country’s judicial reform initiatives will be promoted.

At the commencement of the project, the APJRF Secretariat requested all members to assist in developing a list of potential judicial reform topics for inclusion in the proposed publication. Members participating in the Kuala Lumpur round table meeting prioritised the identified topics in light of which of these were of the most immediate relevance to them. In this way, the publication’s content was defined.

Nine authors were identified following a regional selection process and contributed to the publication. These contributors were senior judges, court administrators, lawyers, scholars and representatives of civil society from across the region. An ‘issues-based’ approach to drafting was adopted to ensure that chapters were focussed around selected key messages informed by the chapter authors’ practical reform experience.

A number of core concepts, grounded upon the philosophy articulated in the Manila Declaration, underpin the publication - that it is to:

• Promote standards of justice established in international instruments.
• Describe our actual experiences of common challenges.
• Create a practical tool for exchanging learning and use by each other.
• Empower and enable reform actors throughout the justice system.
• Contribute to developing a shared vision across the region.

Through this, the publication will have the potential to offer a rich spectrum of know-how and practical learning for those engaged in the critical quests for justice, protection of human rights and the promotion of good governance across the Asia Pacific region.

This important APJRF publication is now available... [more information…]

Additional Project Information:

Project Board - overseeing the development of the publication as the member’s representatives, and peer reviewers:

• Justice Antonio T CARPIO: Supreme Court of the Philippines (Chair.)
• Senior Judge Zhang GENDA: Supreme People’s Court of China.
• Justice Kenneth HAYNE: High Court of Australia.
• Dr Faqir HUSSAIN: Secretary, Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan.
• Chief Justice Vincent LUNABEK: Supreme Court of Vanuatu.
• Mr. R. SUDARSHAN: Justice and Law Reform Advisor, UNDP Regional Centre Bangkok.
• Justice Phattarasak VANNASAENG: Supreme Court of Thailand.

Peer Reviewers:

• Fr. Ranhilio AQUINO: Chair, PHILJA Department of Jurisprudence and Legal Philosophy.
• D'ato Param CUMARASWAMY: Honorary Member, International Commission of Jurists.
• Ms. Lynnsay RONGOKEA FRANCIS: Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development.
• Ms. Sara Hossain: Judicial Reform Expert, Bangladesh.
• Mr. Warwick SODEN: Principal Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Federal Court of Australia.

Project Facilitation and Review Team:

• Mr. Livingston Armytage: APJRF Technical Editor.
• Mr. Lorenz Metzner: APJRF Network Facilitator.
• Ms. Emilia Mugnai: Programme Specialist, Justice and Human Rights, UNDP RCB.