[{"bbox": [96, 153, 1134, 446], "category": "Text", "text": "the interactions the EU Delegation (EUDEL) has with the Government and the judicial authorities, Mongolia demonstrates the importance it attaches to strengthening links and exchanging experiences and best practices with EU and its Member States, and also showcases a clear interest to materialise the justice reforms in the country. The first-ever TAIEX mission in justice sector in Mongolia took place in March 2023, with experts from EU Member States (Austria, Estonia, Italy), working with the Supreme Court, JGC and JDC, focusing on digitalisation of judiciary (courts, systems, proceedings), as well as on accountability of judges, disciplinary measures and relations with media/public. In relation to the digitalisation agenda, there is a genuine effort from the judiciary branch to implement (they have set up a working group (WG) on Digitalisation and an Innovation and Digitalisation Committee), however, State budget does not match the ambitions, and a clear common strategy/action plan is not yet in place. The know-how of the EU and its Member States in these areas can really be of added value for Mongolian authorities in these processes."}, {"bbox": [96, 456, 1134, 697], "category": "Text", "text": "The proposed Action, focusing on the effective implementation of the justice reforms, comes under the 2nd priority of the Multiannual Indicative Programme (MIP) 2021-2027 for Mongolia, on Democratic and Economic Development. It is in line with the overall EU Good Governance agenda (promoting EU core values and principles abroad), EU development policy frameworks and strategies (including the EU Consensus and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development) as well as EU geostrategic and economic interests as enshrined in the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and the Global Gateway Strategy. It is also consistent with the overall EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2021-2024 as well as the priorities outlined in the GAP III Country Level Implementation Plan (CLIP) and the new EU Human Rights and Democracy Country Strategy for Mongolia for the same period."}, {"bbox": [85, 724, 340, 753], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 2.2 Problem Analysis"}, {"bbox": [96, 769, 1134, 824], "category": "Text", "text": "Short problem analysis: the proposed Action will focus on a limited number of interconnected problems which impede inclusive and efficient access to justice and the independent functioning of the judicial system."}, {"bbox": [96, 835, 562, 863], "category": "Section-header", "text": "**Justice reforms and institutional strengthening:**"}, {"bbox": [96, 873, 1134, 1140], "category": "Text", "text": "Since the 1990's, the Mongolian judiciary has undergone a comprehensive process of change, however political influence has severely affected the independence and impartiality of the judiciary. The second reform of the judiciary which started in 2020 aims to \"ensure the independence of the judiciary promote human rights, strengthen the rule of law.\" This would require a comprehensive (re-)training of legal personnel, including on updated Anti Money Laundering/Counter Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) legislation. Although some changes have been made to the regulatory framework these recent years, there are still legislative, policy and procedural gaps that need to be addressed, including strengthening the independence and oversight of the judiciary as well as improving relations with the public (media, civil society) whose perception of judiciary is deteriorating. Besides, the sector remains fragmented and lacks an overall strategic vision and planning (many institutions involved with limited coordination and systematic exchange of information)."}, {"bbox": [96, 1151, 500, 1179], "category": "Section-header", "text": "**Capacity of judges, lawyers, prosecutors:**"}, {"bbox": [96, 1190, 1134, 1377], "category": "Text", "text": "The UN Treaty Monitoring Bodies of the Human Rights Treaties that Mongolia has ratified, insist on the need for skills development programmes for judges, advocates and prosecutors, including on laws and procedures (especially incorporating a human-rights based and gender responsive approach in their practice) and on communicating clearly, openly and efficiently with the public. A lot of trainings have been delivered ad-hoc with support from donors, but there is neither a systematic approach followed nor it is at the top priority of the Government to secure this funding for the judiciary. Content and quality of higher education can also be linked to these emerging needs at practitioner's level."}, {"bbox": [96, 1388, 1134, 1575], "category": "Text", "text": "The Government of Mongolia has prioritised **digitalisation** to enhance efficiency, transparency and improve case management as a means to increase public trust. The justice actors are tasked to deliver on an ambitious digitalisation reform which however is not reflected well in the budget allocated to the judiciary. Justice digitalisation is not part of the general e-governance strategy, and it is felt that the success of the digital reforms is solely left to the judiciary without enough resources and support. In addition, the absence of a comprehensive digitalisation strategy and roadmap, and also the tendency of the judicial bodies to work separately, create additional challenges."}, {"bbox": [96, 1586, 463, 1614], "category": "Section-header", "text": "**Gender equality and women's rights:**"}, {"bbox": [1038, 1682, 1144, 1706], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 6 of 30"}]