UNODC holds its first judicial integrity training workshop in anticipation of network launch

As preparations for the launch of the Global Judicial Integrity Network reach their final stage, the Judicial Integrity component of the Global Programme for the Implementation of the Doha Declaration held the first, training of trainers workshop, on the subject of judicial ethics.

In partnership with the European Judicial Training Network (EJTN) and the Judicial College of England and Wales, UNODC's training workshop was held in Brussels this month, with participants from Jamaica, Mozambique, Brazil, the Solomon Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Uganda and Mauritius. These countries, as part of the larger group of pilots site jurisdictions which also includes Pakistan, Madagascar, Tunisia and Belize, will become the first group of trainers, initiating themselves the implementation of their learning in their respective jurisdictions.

The workshop focused on how to develop and design national and regional judicial ethics training activities, in line with the Judicial Ethics Training Tools which are currently being developed by UNODC. With these training tools, members of the judiciary around the world will be empowered to achieve a better, more solid understanding of the Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct, and of the implementation of Article 11 of the United Nations Convention against Corruption.

The training tools will consist of a basic e-learning course, in addition to a teachers' training manual to be used more intensively in classroom courses. For this inaugural workshop, the focus was on the use of the teachers' training manual, and in particular on the options of combination with the e-learning courses. There was also ample time dedicated to assisting trainers on how to adapt the manual to each national circumstance, and to existing domestic judicial ethics regulations.

For this first course, as will be the case for all upcoming ones, participants were trained in adopting a systematic approach to designing and delivering conduct and ethics trainings; this included the identification of learning needs, the understanding of learning outcomes, and the selection of the most appropriate training methods. In addition, the workshop covered the management of group development in any training event, with a focus on group cohesion for more effective learning, and the application of facilitation skills and techniques to that end.

Practical aspects of training were also covered, including the selection of the most suitable training evaluation technique, and the creation of an action plan to deliver further conduct and ethics trainings in the participants' respective countries.

Commenting on the outcome of this first workshop, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Federated States of Micronesia, Mr. Dennis Kiyoshi Yamase, said: "This UNODC training of trainers programme was perfectly timed, and will be of immense help for the planning and execution of the judicial conduct and ethics training programme that I will conduct myself this summer."

This assessment was echoed by Jamaica Court of Appeal Judge Marva McDonald Bishop, who stated: "This workshop was quite timely, educational, instructive and enjoyable. The experience and learning will be of tremendous benefit to me personally and to the Jamaican judiciary in general. It has augmented my knowledge, strengthened my competences and enhanced my abilities. The trainers were excellent and my fellow participants supportive and friendly. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I must express sincere gratitude and appreciation to the organizers, sponsors and trainers. Well done!"

The satisfaction with this first workshop's outcome was also shared by Judge Carlos Mondlane, Chairman of the Mozambican Judges' Association, who commented on the networking aspect the workshop offered: "My participation in this course supported by UNODC and EJTN allowed me to acquire scientific skills to be used in training judges in ethics. It's a good experience, not only for the contents, methods and the quality of trainers, but to meet different judges and directors of judicial centre training schools all over the world. It's a promotion of the culture of lawfulness in global judicial integrity network."

UNODC's Global Judicial Integrity Network will be launched in Vienna on 9 and 10 April 2018, in the presence of Chief Justices and judges from around the world and other interested stakeholders. For more information, please visit Judicial Integrity web page.