Judicial Reform Program

March 2002 - March 2007

Donor: USAID
Partners: Nation Center for State Courts

In 2001, Pact began work on mass media productions, with the National Centre for State Courts. Since the pro-democracy rallies of the early 1990s when the  cry went out, ‘Mongolian men and women mount your  horses’ [for the ride to democracy], Mongolia’s judicial  system has been undergoing a major overhaul. Legal codes are being adjusted to take Mongolia forward. Citizens often represent themselves within the changing court system.

The Blue Book TV series and complimentary radio drama provide insights and information that assists navigation of the legal system, whichever side of it people find themselves on. Blue Book features re-enactments of criminal and civil offences, the court room hearing and has a studio audience discussion with lawyers on the peculiarities of the case.

The original Blue Book was the set of laws and maxims developed by Chinggis Khan (Genghis Khan) for the unified tribes of Mongolia that came together under his reign. Pact Mongolia has created thirty-eight television programs that support judicial reforms in Mongolia.

In 2005, Mongolian National Radio named one of the radio shows produced by Pact for the Judicial Reform Program as the most listened to program of the year.

Four series of radio programs that compliment the television have been produced examining topics within the civil and criminal law codes. Some of the topics covered are domestic violence, land ownership and property rights, access to social services, criminal procedure code and employment rights.

Results

• Developed and carried out a public awareness campaign on how the courts should work in a free market democracy, highlighting key changes in new laws that affect the function of the courts. The campaign included press kits, TV/radio public service announcements, newspaper articles, and posters as well as TV/radio talk show appearances and open community discussions.
• Produced a 2 x 26-part TV drama series', Huuliin Tsag (in collaboration with the German Technical Corporation (GTZ) that focused on the newly ratified Criminal and Criminal Procedure Codes. The drama was rated as the most watched program on Mongol TV.
• Conducted numerous trainings in conjunction with local NGO's for Mongolian public affairs and public information officers from the Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs (MOJHA), the General Prosecutors Office, Advocates Associations and district courts. Participants improved their theoretical knowledge and practical skills in media and public relations, producing press releases and press kits, organizing and hosting formal and informal press conferences, and establishing and maintaining professional and productive relationships with media and other information outlets.
• Improved participant knowledge of courts and how they function in order to more accurately report proceedings through numerous journalist trainings, which focused on court reporting, in conjunction with local NGOs.
• Facilitated a News & Information column for the Ministry of Justice and Human Affairs (MOJHA) and Supreme Court in the paid content section of the Pact-produced Rural Business News (RBN) magazine, allowing them to disseminate news and information.