MILAN: Oman, represented by the Supreme Judiciary Council, participated in the panel discussions of the heads of supreme courts, organised by the Arab Center for Legal and Judicial Research in Milan, Italian Republic, under the theme 'Towards Enhancing Judicial Communication.'
The event saw the participation of heads of judicial councils and supreme courts in Arab countries, alongside a number of experts and specialists in judicial affairs.
The Supreme Judiciary Council was represented at the session by Sayyid Khalifa bin Said al Busaidy, Chairman of the Supreme Court.
The panel discussion addressed four main pillars, most notably the strategic plans of judicial councils and supreme courts in Arab countries, a forward-looking presentation of the most important regional experiences and practices, the pillar of Arab initiatives for judicial communication towards enhancing the capabilities of judicial councils and supreme courts, and the discussion of recommendations and their implementation mechanism.
The Arab Center for Legal and Judicial Research indicated that conferences of supreme court heads constitute an important result of joint Arab action and embody the keenness of Arab countries to enhance judicial cooperation and exchange expertise between their judicial institutions. It added that the supreme courts represent the apex of the judicial pyramid in Arab judicial systems and undertake a pivotal role in consolidating the rule of law and achieving justice.
The Center emphasised that enhancing communication between judicial councils and supreme courts in Arab countries aims to identify the strategic plans and directions of these institutions.
The first pillar, dedicated to the strategic plans of judicial councils and supreme courts, witnessed a review of numerous Arab experiences, including a review of a number of working papers on the roles of the judiciary in some countries.
Under the same pillar, the Sultanate of Oman addressed the long-term strategic plan of the Supreme Judiciary Council 2024-2040, which was presented by Dr Salim bin Zwaid al Hashemi, Assistant Secretary-General for Planning and Digital Transformation.
The presentation covered several aspects, including the preparation and implementation of the strategic plan as an institutional model that aligns with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040, enhances the efficiency of the judicial system, and consolidates the principles of justice and the rule of law.
Al Hashemi touched upon the most prominent digital transformation projects within the strategic plan, including electronic and virtual trials, digital integration with government entities, digital infrastructure development, the employment of emerging technologies, and the creation of electronic platforms for publishing judgments and studies, in addition to developing digital judicial services to contribute to improving the beneficiaries' experience.
He indicated that the plan seeks to raise the efficiency of judicial services by reducing litigation periods, developing the enforcement system, upgrading the services of courts and the notary public, improving case management, and expanding alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, in addition to developing judicial assistance, translation services, and services provided to persons with disabilities.
He also touched upon the governance and performance management system adopted by the Council, which includes project management, performance measurement, risk and quality management, and tracking the implementation of initiatives through measurable performance indicators, ensuring the achievement of strategic targets up to the year 2040.
The second pillar witnessed a forward-looking view of the most important regional and international experiences and practices, while the third pillar — the pillar of Arab initiatives for judicial communication towards enhancing the capabilities of judicial councils and supreme courts — of the panel discussion witnessed a discussion on the guiding Arab framework for governing the use of artificial intelligence in the judiciary towards a reliable digital justice, as well as a discussion on the Arab initiative for judicial communication towards capacity building.
The panel discussion concluded with a discussion on recommendations and their implementation mechanisms.
- ONA
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