[{"bbox": [83, 107, 1145, 222], "category": "Text", "text": "a comprehensive approach: filtering and screening of the cases in every stage, diverting cases to other forums where appropriate, prioritise long pending cases for quick disposal and use of alternative dispute mechanism wherever applicable. Improved case management and coordination at the formal level will help to institutionalise and formalise Village Courts within the justice system and vice versa."}, {"bbox": [83, 250, 1144, 307], "category": "Text", "text": "Identification of main stakeholders and corresponding institutional and/or organisational issues (mandates, potential roles, and capacities) to be covered by the action:"}, {"bbox": [83, 337, 262, 364], "category": "Section-header", "text": "**For component 1:**"}, {"bbox": [83, 394, 223, 422], "category": "Section-header", "text": "**Duty-bearers:**"}, {"bbox": [83, 452, 433, 479], "category": "Section-header", "text": "**Local Government Division (LGD)**"}, {"bbox": [83, 481, 1145, 769], "category": "Text", "text": "The Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives (MLGRD&C) will continue to be the principal partner in the proposed action and will be consulted at all stages of the project cycle, in order to maximise the synergies between the proposed action and the decentralisation policy of GoB. At decentralised level, the LGD is represented by the Director of Local Government (DLG) at Division level and by the Deputy Director of Local Government (DDLG) at district level, who are responsible for supervising and monitoring the activities of local authorities, in particular the Union Parishads, where the Village Courts are based. The involvement of this Ministry will have an increased importance in this phase of the project in order to ensure that local governments' capacities are strengthened to provide Village Courts with the necessary human, material and financial resources which will enable them to remain sustainable in the long term."}, {"bbox": [83, 799, 428, 826], "category": "Section-header", "text": "**Union Parishads (Local Councils)**"}, {"bbox": [83, 828, 1145, 997], "category": "Text", "text": "UPs are the most important form of local government in rural areas and an important source of services for rural communities. Like the next-higher level, the Upazila (sub-district), they are directly elected, whereas the higher levels of local government (District and Division) represent deconcentrated central government. The UPs are, therefore, at the centre of the GoB commitment to decentralisation and will continue to have a key role in supporting Village Courts as effective, transparent, accessible and accountable judicial institutions."}, {"bbox": [83, 1030, 588, 1058], "category": "Section-header", "text": "**Ministry of Law Justice and Parliamentary Affairs**"}, {"bbox": [83, 1060, 1145, 1175], "category": "Text", "text": "This Ministry agrees that Village Courts should play a central role in access to justice for the poor. The Ministry's most important role in the project is to ensure continued relevance of the project to the needs of beneficiaries by amending the existing legislation to ensure appropriate competences for the Village Courts and their good coordination with the formal justice system through appropriate referral systems."}, {"bbox": [83, 1205, 221, 1232], "category": "Section-header", "text": "**The judiciary**"}, {"bbox": [83, 1233, 1145, 1348], "category": "Text", "text": "Judges and other court officials will continue to play a key role in providing legal training to Village Court members, including on human rights standards in relation to legal proceedings, and on women's rights and gender equality, advice on effective court management, referral of cases that fall within the jurisdiction of Village Courts as well as hearing appeals against decisions of Village Courts in certain cases."}, {"bbox": [83, 1378, 191, 1405], "category": "Section-header", "text": "**The police**"}, {"bbox": [83, 1407, 1145, 1551], "category": "Text", "text": "The police plays an important role as it is in charge of directing cases under its authority to the Village Courts or, alternatively, the formal justice systems. Problems were experienced during the first phases of the project as regards the legal basis for the police to refer cases to Village Courts. It will be important for the project to ensure that appropriate legal bases and instruments allow the Police to refer cases to Village Courts and that the police is aware and trained as regards the role of Village Courts."}, {"bbox": [83, 1580, 518, 1607], "category": "Section-header", "text": "**NGOs representing rights of rights-holders**"}, {"bbox": [1051, 1663, 1158, 1687], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 8 of 27"}]