The “Justice for All” Coalition believes that what citizens are looking for are concrete actions and a clearly expressed willingness by all the political forces and the constitutional institutions, in order to achieve an effective implementation of the justice reform and to conduct free and fair elections. Without these two very crucial reforms for our country, we can neither pretend the existence and consolidation of the rule of law, nor the respect of citizens’ rights and freedoms.

We regretfully consider that the approval of the electoral reform and the implementation of the justice reform, the two key reforms for the citizens and for the country’s integration to the European Union, are currently blocked.

The vetting of judges and prosecutors is the most important process for Albanian citizens, who seek a non-corrupt, independent and accountable justice system. The Coalition notices that it has been already 12 days since the day the People’s Advocate published the list of candidates who meet the formal and informal criteria to the vetting institutions. We have requested, and will continue to ask the People’s Advocate for more transparency to the public with regard to the way the criteria provided with the law have been applied in the verification of candidates to date.

Additionally, the Coalition has monitored the verification process conducted by the working group at the People’s Advocate Institution for the civil society candidates to the High Judicial Council and High Prosecutorial Council. First, we have noticed a low level of representation of the civil society in this public session, which we deem would have been avoided with a more proactive role of the People’s Advocate. In this monitoring process, the Coalition also observed that the majority of candidates do not come from the civil society and do not meet the criteria provided for by the Constitution and the Law. With the belief that this procedure will be reopened, we make an appeal to the civil society organizations to be more responsible in providing their support to candidates who meet the criteria set in the Constitution and Law. The Coalition deems it crucial that the civil society organizations do not provide fictitious support, and therefore, avoid categorically nepotism, or any other form of conflict of interest.

In conclusion, the “Justice for All” Coalition encourages the civil society organizations to support candidates who really come from its ranks, who enjoy high and professional moral integrity, and have no political affiliation, in order to have a dignified representation of the civil society to the HJC and HPC, as two very important governing institutions of the justice system.

“Justice for All” Coalition

1. Albanian Women Empowerment Network – AWEN
2. “Vatra” Psycho-Social Center”, Vlorë
3. Albanian Disability Rights Foundation – ADRF
4. National Coalition of Anti-Trafficking Shelters in Albania – NCATS
5. Institute of Romani Culture in Albania – IRCA
6. Balkan Youth Link Albania
7. Women’s Democracy Network Albania – WDN Al
8. “Eye of the new media” Foundation, Gjirokastër
9. Albanian Helsinki Committee – AHC
10. Center of Integrated Legal Services and Practices – CILSP
11. American Chamber of Commerce in Albania – AmCham
12. “Another Vision” Association, Elbasan
13. “Different and Equal” Organization
14. Albanian Institute of Legal and Territorial Studies – ALTRI
15. “Together for Life” Association
16. European Law Students Association in Albania – ELSA Albania
17. South East Social Contract Institute – SSCI
18. Children’s Human Rights Centre of Albania – CRCA
19. Society for Democratic Culture
20. Center for Legal and Civic Initiative – CLCI