The Demand for Justice Program (D4J) signs Grant Agreement with Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI)

November 3, 2016 - Kosovo is struggling with a poorly functioning justice system, wherein a number of domestic and international reports, and citizen surveys provide both evidence and the perception that judicial bodies lack the requisite integrity to engage effectively in Kosovo’s fight against corruption. Meanwhile, recent evidence of political influence over justice actors threatens to further erode citizen trust in judicial institution.

The D4J Program is endeavoring to tackle this disturbing trend, and has enlisted KDI as a grant partner responsible for promoting a national level debate on Kosovo’s judicial integrity policy by exposing different mechanisms of corruption in the judicial system, and then triggering an open and sincere discussion amongst justice sector actors and the public about possible solutions.

With guidance and support from the International Bar Association (IBA) , KDI will be working with the Kosovo Bar Association (KBA), the Kosovo Judicial Council, the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council and the Kosovo Police and Inspectorate to conduct an IBA-inspired Judicial Integrity Initiative Survey for Kosovo in order to empower Kosovo’s justice sector actors to anonymously identify – and later discuss and combat - the mechanisms of corruption and barriers to integrity in the Kosovo Justice System.

D4J is a U.S Department of State/INL funded program which began in August 2016 and is supporting the development of robust, evidence-driven demand for justice in Kosovo and increased critical-thinking and practical skills building amongt the legal community.