On November 21-23, OSCE Human Dimension Seminar “Promoting effective and integral justice systems: how to ensure the independence and quality of the judiciary” took place in Warsaw, Poland. Representatives of OSCE participating States, OSCE institutions, and OSCE executive structures, representatives of inter-governmental organizations, legal professionals, representatives of civil society and researchers from 57 participating States discussed justice systems, courts and the independence of judges in OSCE region.
Participating in the discussion on November 22 Ahmad Shahidov, Head of Azerbaijan Institute for Democracy and Human Rights made a report on the independence of the courts. Speaking on the independence of judges and prosecutors, Head of AIDHR listed the highlights, which prevents the independence of the courts.
Ahmad Shahidov said that in some countries, judges are members of the ruling party or represent a certain social class. Local media outlets are trying to affect the operation of the courts, by publishing a series of articles in the press, they attempt to change the decision of the judges in the trial, added human rights defender. Underlined the importance of the formation of the court judges and employees of the prosecutor’s office as an independent institute, Head of AIDHR noted that even in Western countries with perfect justice system, there are gaps in this area.