ICJ Canada has concluded its Project in the Southeast Adriatic countries with two final Regional Conferences.

In the field of Court Efficiency, a final Regional Conference was held from June 17 to 20, 2004, in Palic, Serbia, where more than 110 participants were presented with the results achieved in the past two years. This audience was composed of members of the judiciaries, lawyers, representatives of international and regional organizations, as well as state institutions from Serbia and Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Macedonia and Slovenia. The Canadian delegation was made up of Judge Michèle Rivet, Justice John Agrios, Me Bernard Grenier, and Me Caroline Meilleur.

At the Conference, many Chief Justices vigorously expressed an interest in implementing similar Projects within their own courts.

The published results of the Pilot Courts Project and the legal publications on Court Efficiency were distributed to more than 2000 jurists in Serbia and Montenegro during the summer.

In the field of Human Rights, the Project organized its final Regional Conference in Bjelolasica, Croatia, which was attended by more than 110 participants. The Canadian delegation was composed of Judge Michèle Rivet, Chief Justice Catherine Fraser, Me Caroline Meilleur, and Me Manon Montpetit.

It is clear from the success of these Regional Conferences that more such events are needed. Judges were able to learn from the experience of the others and share different approaches related to their daily jobs. Following the disintegration of Yugoslavia, the legal and judicial structures of most newly independent countries focused their energy internally, forgetting the common roots of their legal traditions. The Regional Conferences made clear to many attendees the necessity and desirability of exchanging views with their colleagues in neighbouring countries.

In the past five years, ICJ Canada’s Project has accomplished a great deal and has organized many activities whose positive outcomes have paved the way for future, more in-depth activities in the fields in which it has become expert. In June 2005, ICJ Canada submitted to CIDA a new proposal that would allow us to pursue our activities in the region for the next four years. The project has successfully passed all internal review committees at CIDA and is awaiting the final Minister’s approval.•