Judicial Cooperation Initiatives

For nearly three decades, FJA and the Canadian judiciary have actively developed and implemented a wide range of programs dedicated to upholding the core values of justice, fairness, the rule of law, and respect for human rights. Through such initiatives, Canada has played a crucial role in providing assistance in the development of judicial systems in various countries by offering expert advice and support that drives meaningful change across multiple areas.

Whether through multi-year initiatives or short-term interventions, FJA’s assistance is both strategic and targeted, and designed to address the specific needs of the judiciary in each partner country.

Examples of FJA's Assistance Programs:

  • Judicial Reform, Trust, and Access to Justice
    • Technical Assistance Partnership Program (TAP-FJA) (Various Countries; 2023-2028): Targeted technical support is offered to countries eligible for official development aid; addresses immediate judicial needs and undertakes activities to strengthen judicial system in countries of cooperation. Project aligns with the Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy, emphasises gender equality and protection of human rights.
    • Support to Judicial Reform Project in Ukraine (SJRP) (Ukraine) (2016-2023): Resulted in improved court communications, strengthened court security, and integrated gender equality into pilot court practices and judicial system institutions. It also provided the framework to streamline the processes of the State Court Administration Agency, strengthen judicial self-governance institutions and their processes; revitalize the High Qualification Commission of Judges, resulting in boosting public trust, judicial independence, and aligning Ukraine with Euro-Atlantic integration goals.
  • Judicial and Court System Capacity Building for Economic Development
    • Judicial Education for Economic Growth Project (JEEG) (Ukraine) (2012-2016): Outcomes enhanced the capacity of the judiciary and courts to address business-related legal issues, including contract enforcement, labour disputes, and the adjudication of cases involving small and medium enterprises, fostering an environment conducive to economic growth.
    • Judicial Systems Improvement for Commerce and Economy (JUSTICE) (Ghana, Peru, and Jamaica) (2010-2013): The initiative strengthened judicial capabilities and improved court operations to support private sector development and economic restructuring.
  • Criminal Justice System Efficiency
    • Justice Undertakings for Social Transformation Project (JUST) (Jamaica) (2012-2016): Improved criminal case management and case flow by addressing court backlogs, institutionalizing court statistics; enhanced the role of case progression officers; developed a bench book on criminal case management; and trained judges in producing concise and effective judicial decision summaries.
  • Court Management and Administrative Competences
    • Capacity Development Needs Assessment Project (West Bank) (2012-2013): The initiative facilitated expert exchange that provided recommendations to strengthen court management and administrative functions in the West Bank.
  • Transition from Inquisitorial to an Adversarial Justice System
    • Education and Training for Judges Project (Mexico) (2012-2013): Assisted Mexico's judiciary in transitioning from an inquisitorial to an adversarial system: training of judges on their new roles, promoting fair case resolution, and encouraged discussions on criminal case procedures; developed a comprehensive code of ethics with detailed commentaries to guide judicial conduct.
    • helped Mexico's judiciary make the transition from an inquisitorial to an adversarial system by training judges in their new roles, encouraging the fair resolution of cases and discussion of procedures for criminal cases, and developing a comprehensive code of ethics with detailed commentaries to guide judicial conduct.

For a comprehensive list of all FJA projects, explore our interactive map showcasing the countries of previous and ongoing FJA engagement. These initiatives should be considered within the context of shifting geopolitical landscapes and ever-evolving global dynamics.



Judicial Cooperation Project Locations:

China (2002-2003, 2005-2009)

China: Multiple initiatives over several years [Enhancement of the Judicial Administration System (EJASC) (sub-component of Public Policy Options Project (PPOP)) (2001-2003); Canada-China Judicial Linkages sub-Project (CCJLP) (2004-2009)]

  • Focus: Judicial reform, including judicial administration, policy development, judicial classification, and case-flow management.
  • Results: Made recommendations for improved judicial and court administration practices, and transparency based on the best Canadian standards.
Colombia (2021–2022)

Colombia: Technical Assistance Partnership (TAP) Project (2021–2022)

  • Focus: Enhancing gender equality and sensitivity within the judicial system.
  • Results: Partnered with the Colombian Judicial Gender Commission to support reforms and provided recommendations for a strategic plan to integrate more gender-and socially-sensitive practices within the court system. Developed a guide for establishing specialized courts for domestic violence cases, with the aim of improving access to justice for women and girls, which also facilitated the piloting of these court practices.
Ecuador (2024–2025)

Ecuador: Technical Assistance Partnership (TAP) (2024–2025)

  • Focus: Integration of Indigenous justice systems within the national legal framework
  • Goal:  Assist Ecuador with the development of the integrated judicial and court practices, strengthened judicial capacity on dealing with cases involving indigenous persons
Ethiopia (2000-2005)

Ethiopia: Judicial Reform and Administration Project (2000–2005)

  • Focus: Promoting the rule of law and strengthening management and administration capacities.
  • Results: Introduced new practices, procedures, and technologies to reduce inefficiencies and enhance the effectiveness of the Ethiopian judicial system.
Ghana (2010-2013)

Ghana: Judicial Systems Improvement for Commerce and Economy (JUSTICE) (2010–2013)

  • Focus: Enhancing case management and client service for court staff.
  • Results: Improved court efficiency and responsiveness, contributed to better court management practices, supporting private sector development and economic growth.
Jamaica (2012-2016)

Jamaica: Justice Undertakings for Social Transformation (JUST) (2012–2016)

  • Focus: Addressing inefficiencies in the justice system, with a particular emphasis on improving criminal case management, case flow, and overall court efficiency.
  • Results (not exhaustive): Reduced case backlogs / Strengthened Court Management Services / Introduced robust statistical reporting / Improved case management and case flow in criminal cases / Developed and expanded the role of case progression officers / Assisted judges with decision summary writing / Developed a comprehensive bench book for criminal processes.
Kiribati (2018)

Kiribati: Criminal Justice Bench Book Update Project (2018)

  • Focus: Criminal Bench Book for Lay Magistrates.
  • Results: Updated the Bench Book on Criminal Cases, reflecting the latest laws and practices, improving the legal guidance available to Lay Magistrates, and enhancing judicial effectiveness.
Latvia (2017)

Latvia: Judicial Independence and Administration Technical Exchange (2017)

  • Focus: Judicial independence and administration.
  • Results: Hosted a Latvian delegation interested in learning about Canada’s best practices, fostering cross-border judicial dialogue and mutual learning.
Lithuania (2024)

Lithuania: Judicial Administration and Communication ProjectTechnical Exchange (2024)

  • Focus: Judicial and court administration, judicial communication.
  • Results: Hosted a delegation led by the Chief Justice of Lithuania, promoted effective court management and transparent judicial processes.
Maldives (2012-2013)

Maldives: Judicial Independence, Accountability, and Professionalism Project (JIAPP) (2012–2013)

  • Focus: Judicial independence, accountability, and professionalism.
  • Results: Engaged with the Maldivian judiciary to educate on the practical application of judicial independence and made recommendations on the judicial discipline procedure.
Mexico (2010-2012)

Mexico: Education and Training for Judges Project (ETJP) (2012–2013)

  • Focus: Transitioning from an inquisitorial to an adversarial judicial system.
  • Results: Developed a Judicial Code of Ethics with Commentaries, trained on new roles of judges in adversarial process system, and criminal case management practices.
Moldova (2022-2025)

Moldova: Technical Assistance Partnership (TAP) (2022–2025)

  • Focus: Enhanced judicial ethics and improved judicial and court communications, including interdepartmental communications
  • Results (to-date): Organized webinars, facilitated missions, and provided technical assistance, enhancing transparency and public trust in the judiciary.
Mongolia (2021-2024)

Mongolia: Technical Assistance Partnership (TAP) (2021–2024)

  • Focus: Judicial accountability and public communication.
  • Results: Developed the first ever Ethics Guide for Judges, established an Ethics Advisory Committee, and improved communication strategies, strengthening public confidence in the judiciary.
Peru (2010-2013)

Peru: Judicial Systems Improvement for Commerce and Economy (JUSTICE) (2010–2013)

  • Focus: Judicial system improvement for economic development.
  • Results: Contributed to improved court operations, allowing judges to focus on judicial functions and supporting private sector growth.
Russia (2000-2009)

Russia: Judicial Reform Project (2000–2009)

  • Focus: Judicial reform, including the rule of law, constitutionalism, and judicial independence.
  • Results: Strengthened the capacity of the Russian judiciary, improved court procedures, and reinforced judicial independence.
South Africa (2023-2024)

South Africa: Technical Assistance Partnership (TAP) (2023–2024)

  • Focus: Intra-judicial communications.
  • Results: Facilitated a high-level exchange between the Chief Justices of Canada and South Africa, establishing a durable judicial dialogue.
South Asia (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan) (2003-2008)

South Asia (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan): Gender Equality Project (2003–2008)

  • Focus: Mainstreaming gender equality among justices and court staff.
  • Facilitated Canadian judicial participation in an equality-focused judicial education forum, promoting gender sensitivity and equality across the judicial systems in these countries.
Ukraine (1996-2002, 2006-2011, 2012-2016, 2016-2020)

Ukraine: Multiple Judicial Reform Initiatives [Canada-Ukraine Judicial Reform Project (CUJRP): 1996-2002; Canada- Ukraine Policy Advice Project (sub-component of the Policy Advice for Reform Project (2002-2004); Canada-Ukraine Judicial Cooperation Project (CUJCP) (2006-2011); Judicial Education for Economic Growth Project in Ukraine (2012-2016); Support to Judicial Reform Project in Ukraine (SJRP) (Implemented in partnership with the National Judicial Institute) (2016-2020)]

  • Focus: Judicial reform, access to justice, economic growth, judicial independence and accountability, case management, effective and gender sensitive court administration practices   
  • Among key results (not exhaustive): Developed a code of ethics for judges / Strengthened judicial independence through educational programs and forums/ Contributed to updating the civil procedural code/ Assisted in the institutional development of the State Court Administration Agency of Ukraine and the Court Security Service /Developed emergency guides for courts and a gender strategy for judicial governance institutions / Trained judges in case management and early case settlement / Introduced the positions of court administrators and press secretaries /Developed a system for random case assignment and installed information kiosks for public use / Relaunched the High Qualification Commission of Judges / Supported Ukraine’s alignment with international standards and the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Court / Contributed to enhancing public trust in the justice system and reinforcing judicial independence.
West Bank (2012-2013)

West Bank: Capacity Development Needs Assessment (CDNA) (2012–2013)

  • Focus: Capacity development for court management.
  • Results: Conducted needs assessment missions and provided recommendations for improved court management practices to the Palestinian authorities.