TIRANA, ALBANIA     Earlier this month, to support ongoing reforms and improve judicial leadership, the USAID Justice for All Project facilitated the inaugural meeting of the Albanian Women Judges Forum. Twenty-six judges, including five Chief Judges, participated in the Forum’s first meeting and voted to proceed with formalizing the Forum as a legal entity. The Forum also met with a senior U. S. Judge who spoke with them about how similar forums have successfully tackled issues, such as how domestic violence cases are handled in the courts.

The Forum will create opportunities for professional growth, networking, mentoring, and support for women judges and for those seeking to become a judge. It will also act as a visible platform for women to exercise judicial leadership, effect change in how the courts perform.

In the coming year, with USAID support, the Forum will implement key projects to address issues such as access to justice and domestic violence, conduct strategic planning, and seek affiliation with the International Association of Women Judges.

The Justice for All Project supports ongoing judicial reforms and improved judicial leadership through technical assistance in planning and coordinating the many actions necessary for the establishment of key judicial bodies to facilitate the accurate implementation of many procedures established by the new laws that govern the reforms.