The Judicial Engagement and Transparency (JET) project, funded by the European Union has successfully concluded

ULAANBAATAR - The Delegation of the European Union to Mongolia and the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) today held the closing ceremony of the Judicial Engagement and Transparency (JET) Project, marking the conclusion of two years of sustained work to strengthen the relationship between Mongolia's judiciary, media, and civil society.

Launched on 15 July 2024 and implemented by IDLO with the Judicial General Council (JGC) as the primary national partner, the JET Project was designed to address a clear gap identified through surveys and media analysis: a lack of mutual understanding and trust between judicial institutions, journalists, and civil society organizations. Over its two-year lifespan, the project brought together these actors through training, structured dialogue, and joint activities aimed at building the foundations for a more transparent and accountable justice system. 

JET Project

The closing ceremony was opened by remarks from Judicial General Council Chairperson P.Zolzaya, EU Ambassador to Mongolia H.E. Ms. Ina Marciulionyte, and IDLO Country Representative Mr. Charles Bolland. IDLO Programme Lead Ms. N.Odontuya presented the project's overall results, while Intellectual Innovation NGO Executive Director Mr. B.Turbold delivered a comparative analysis of baseline and endline survey findings, illustrating the measurable progress achieved over the implementation period.

The event also featured a two-panel discussion with representatives of partner organizations, reflecting on best practices, lessons learned, and pathways for continued collaboration between the judiciary, media, and civil society beyond the project's conclusion.

JET Project

Key project results:

• Over 100 presiding judges and court public relations officers completed a "Courts and Media Relations" training course developed with the Judicial Academy, accredited by the Academy's Training Board. The training introduced Mongolia's first Judge-Press Spokesperson model, drawing on best practices from Germany.
• 8 "Journalist Roundtables" brought together representatives from the judiciary, media, and civil society, engaging a total of 277 participants and establishing a new platform for sustained dialogue and collaboration.
• 59 civil society and media representatives completed capacity-building training, resulting in a 47% increase in legal knowledge among CSO representatives and a 30% increase among journalists.
• A pilot Paralegal service deployed 30 legal guides across four courts, providing information, advice, and referrals to 6,462 citizens. Based on the pilot's findings, the Judicial General Council is now exploring the permanent institutionalization of the service within the court system.

JET Project

Speaking at the ceremony, EU Ambassador H.E. Ina Marciulionyte emphasized the rationale behind the EU's investment in the project:

"Our goal was to foster better mutual understanding between the judiciary, media organizations, and civil society. Surveys clearly indicated that there was a lack of understanding, and even a lack of trust, between these sectors. The project's objective was therefore to bring them together, to open a better dialogue, and to help them understand each other's roles and responsibilities. When you know what others do and appreciate the complexity of their work, trust follows naturally."

Ambassador Marciulionyte noted the concrete shifts in behaviour she observed on both sides: "I am genuinely glad that judges came to understand the importance of communicating with the media and the general public. For journalists and civil society, it was perhaps equally eye-opening to learn how many cases a judge handles and what that responsibility entails. Today, I believe they are meeting somewhere in the middle."

On the broader question of judicial transparency, the Ambassador pointed to the importance of continuity: "We know from experience, including in many European countries - that this is a long process. What matters most is that it is a continuous one."

JET Project

IDLO Country Representative Charles Bolland echoed this sentiment at the close of the ceremony: "This project has been successful in increasing public trust in Mongolia's judiciary. Strengthening collaboration and mutual understanding between judicial institutions, the media, and civil society has been a key contribution to that result."

Background

The JET Project is part of the European Union's broader support to judicial reform in Mongolia. The EU funds a range of rule of law and justice sector initiatives in the country, reflecting its long-standing commitment to good governance, transparency, and the protection of human rights.

The International Development Law Organization (IDLO) is an intergovernmental organization that works to empower people and enable governments and other authorities to reform laws and strengthen institutions. IDLO has a longstanding presence in Mongolia across multiple rule of law programmes.