Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika, GCL, KBE, CSM, OBE accompanied by Papua New Guinea Centre for Judicial Excellence (PngCJE) Executive Director Mr. John Carey, JP and e-Judiciary Advisor Ms. Alison Holt are attending the High-Level meeting of the Global Judicial Integrity Network in Doha, Qatar which was held on February 24 to 27. The Global Judicial Integrity Network (Network) is one of the key results of the efforts of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Global Programme for the Implementation of the Doha Declaration, which aims to assist Member States in implementing key areas of the Doha Declaration adopted at the Thirteenth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in 2015.

The Network assists judiciaries in strengthening judicial integrity and preventing corruption in the justice system, including through the promotion of networking opportunities, facilitation of access to resources and concentration on existing and emerging challenges related to judicial integrity.

The PngCJE has been selected to host the pilot project for judicial integrity training in the Pacific Islands. “It is a reflection of the commitment of the Papua New Guinea Judiciary to prevent corruption in the justice system”, says Chief Justice Sir Gibbs, who is also the Chairman for PngCJE.

“Our Executive Director Mr. John Carey, who is also a Financial Services Lawyer will lead the implementation of this significant and vital program that will strengthen our judiciary, and as we expand also assist judiciaries of other Pacific Island jurisdictions.”

There are over 450 delegates including 35 Chief Justices and other senior representatives of judiciaries, from 100 countries and 30 judicial associations. This is one of the largest gathering of judges ever organized under the auspices of the United Nations.

The purpose of this second High-Level Meeting of the Network is to:

i. take stock of the achievements of the Network since its launch and discuss the work conducted in the priority areas of the 2018-2019 work plan of the Network;

ii. discuss existing and emerging challenges related to judicial integrity and explore the efforts made by judiciaries to address them; and

iii. identify priority areas for the Network going forward.

The delegation led by the Honourable Chief Justice will return to the capital of Port Moresby on the 29th February. Additional information about the Global Judicial Integrity Network and the High-Level Meeting can be found at www.unodc.org/ji.