POGRADEC, MAY 8, 2013     USAID joined in the celebrations on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Albanian Justice Day by supporting the Pogradeci District Court to organize an Open Day at the court. This was the first such activity in the newly-refurbished courthouse inaugurated on December 3, 2012. The activities included a mock trial on a domestic violence case, and a court knowledge competition with the participation of local high school students, as well as a roundtable between members of the public and the court leadership and staff. Participants also had the opportunity to visit the court and obtain useful informative brochures and leaflets in the court’s information corner. Senior representatives from USAID/Albania, the High Council of Justice, and the Ministry of Justice gave remarks at the opening of the activities.

USAID’s JuST project has been supporting the court to strengthen its public service and outreach to the public. USAID assisted with the design and furnishing of the court’s public information area during the court house reconstruction in November 2012. It also supported the court with the publication of informative brochures and posters.

The five-year USAID’s Albanian Justice Sector Strengthening Project, JuST, is a project to increase court transparency, fairness and efficiency; bolster watchdog and anti corruption roles of civil society organizations and media; and strengthen the legal profession and education in Albania.

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