Program to Modernize the Administration of Justice
HONDURAS
SECTOR: Planning and Reform
PROJECT NAME: Program to Modernize the Administration of Justice
(974/SF-HO)
Strengthening the Judiciary, Training, and Technical
Assistance for the Justice System
(ATN/SF-5170-HO)
TOTAL COST: $9.5 million
FINANCING:
IDB $7.2 million (Loan)
IDB $1.5 million (Technical Cooperation)
LOCAL $0.8 million
DATE OF APPROVAL: March 13, 1996
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This operation consists of a loan for the program to
modernize the administration of justice, as well as a
nonreimbursable technical cooperation to provide
related technical assistance in order to create a more
efficient and reliable legal system that will
strengthen the rule of law, facilitate access for all
citizens and improve the investment climate.
The program will consist of three components:
(a) modernization of legislation, which calls for
drafting and enacting new laws on organization and
attributions of courts, constitutional jurisdiction
and civil procedure, as well as legislation to prevent
domestic violence and punish offenders, dissemination
and enforcement of the new Children's Code and
legislation to promote investment; (b) institutional
strengthening, including efforts to improve the
administrative efficiency of the judiciary by
strengthening its planning, human resources and
computer systems, as well as activities to improve the
Judicial School and the Public Ministry's training
unit; and (c) access to justice, which includes
strengthening the Public Defender's Office, pilot
projects in conciliation and mediation in the legal
aid offices of the National Autonomous University of
Honduras (UNAH) and the Ministry of Labor, a pilot
project in commercial arbitration in chambers of
commerce, and an infrastructure subcomponent to build
hearing rooms for oral proceedings as well as
courthouses for justices of the peace in
municipalities throughout the country.
CONSULTANTS: An international firm specialized in management
systems, organizational analysis and planning will be
hired to carry out an assessment of the judiciary,
review current planning, budgeting, human resources
and information systems, write a proposal of
activities designed to solve administrative conflicts,
maximize available human resources, analyze the
possibilities of privatizing certain services and
provide a reorganization plan for the Supreme Court.
This same firm will carry out a basic organizational
analysis of the Judicial School and offer
recommendations for a more appropriate structure, in
addition to developing an academic curriculum based on
defined occupational groups.
Consulting services will be hired to: (a) assist with
an intensive training effort to program and implement
sixteen specialized courses over a three-year period
in different regions of the country; (b) conduct two
courses per semester for a three-year period in
mediation and conciliation mechanisms; (c) train
groups of 50 for three days in labor conciliation
methods and develop and implement a case tracking
system; (d) design success indicators and evaluation
and impact criteria for each program component, as
well as a suitable monitoring and evaluation system;
(e) draft new legislation and conduct seminars
regarding the same; (f) evaluate the existing human
resources and administrative management information
system, as well as training for court staff on the
existing system or proposal and installation of a new
system; (g) enhance the automated jurisprudence system
and training for users on that system; (h) strengthen
the organization and curriculum of the Public
Ministry's training unit; and (i) audit the financial
statements of the program.
GOODS & EQUIPMENT: Equipment requirements include: items for the new
constitutional chamber; basic libraries of
constitutional, alternative dispute resolution and
other specialized materials; software and hardware
enhancements for the administrative management
information system; equipment for document production
and copying; office equipment; publications; and basic
equipment for courtrooms and furnishings for
courthouses.
CIVIL WORKS: The program will finance construction of four
courtrooms adjacent to the main building of the
Judiciary in Tegucigalpa, as well as courthouses for
justices of the peace in at least 80 municipalities
throughout the country.
EXECUTING AGENCY: Poder Judicial de Honduras
Palacio de la Justicia
Colonia Miraflores
Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Tel: (504) 341-150
Fax: (504) 335-258
Contact: Lic. José E. Figueroa Díaz
Director Administrativo
