The program, which will be carried out by the Ministry of Justice with the help of a $10.5 million IDB loan, will seek to resolve long-standing problems that have resulted in a highly negative public perception of justice administration in the country. Recent surveys gauging society's confidence in eight institutions put the judicial system in sixth place, ahead only of political parties and labor unions.

Problems facing the justice system include slowness in processing cases, high congestion, and insufficient public access. Among the causes are weak judicial bodies, ineffective procedural mechanisms, and inadequate use of alternate mechanisms to settle disputes.

The new program will result in the establishment of a nation-wide system to record and monitor cases that will be placed on the Internet, a study on how to improve pre-trial mediation, a 70 percent increase in public defenders and counsels, a strategy on crime prevention in the five urban areas with the highest crime rates, and a reduction in delays in judgements and final sentencing from eight months to 30 days.

The program is also expected to lower costs of legal proceedings by introducing new management and administrative systems, strengthening provincial courts and training officials. An information system for penitentiaries will improve access to the legal system by prisoners.

The IDB in recent years has increased its support for judicial reform programs. Last year, in addition to the Argentina program, it financed operations in the Dominican Republic, Ecuador and Panama.

The loan was signed in February in Washington, D.C.

Press releases on newly approved projects

Related project documents

The Public Information Center can provide further information at 202-623-2096, or e-mail PIC@iadb.org.