Reconciliation and dialogue are important steps contributing to judicial reform.

Attending the conference on the Central side were comrades: Truong Thi Mai - Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Central Mass Mobilization Commission; Phan Dinh Trac - Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Central Internal Affairs Commission; Nguyen Hoa Binh - Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court.

On the side of Nghe An province, there were comrades: Nguyen Dac Vinh - Member of the Party Central Committee - Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation; Thai Thanh Quy - Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Nguyen Van Thong - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Heads of the National Assembly Delegations of 16 provinces and cities implementing the pilot model.

Delegates attending the conference. Photo: Hoai Thu

Affirm the advantages of the model

Speaking at the opening of the conference, Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court Nguyen Hoa Binh - Secretary of the Party Central Committee emphasized that successful conciliation and dialogue help to thoroughly and effectively resolve disputes without having to open a trial; save costs, time and effort of the parties involved and the State; limit disputes and complaints that last long, causing public outrage. The results of pilot activities on conciliation and dialogue in 16 provinces and centrally run cities are of great significance in providing information and practical lessons for policy making and drafting the Law on Conciliation and Dialogue at Court.

Currently, the Supreme People's Court has completed the Draft Law and submitted it to the National Assembly. This conference aims to evaluate the results achieved, draw lessons on mediation and dialogue, and on that basis propose to competent authorities to develop laws and deploy this institution widely nationwide.

Comrade Nguyen Hoa Binh - Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court delivered the opening speech at the conference. Photo: Hoai Thu

Speaking at the conference, acknowledging the positive results of the pilot model of mediation and dialogue in Nghe An with a successful mediation rate of 82% for a total of more than 3,000 cases, Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Dac Vinh affirmed that the pilot on innovation and enhancement of mediation and administrative complaints has been implemented synchronously by Nghe An province. After the pilot period, this model was assessed as very humane, effectively resolving conflicts and disputes arising in life and society, contributing to increasing the effectiveness of mass mobilization work, in line with the development trend of the world.

Comrade Nguyen Dac Vinh -Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee affirmed that the provincial leaders always pay attention and give strong direction in implementing the pilot model of mediation and dialogue in the province.Nghe An.Photo: Hoai Thu

Highlighting the results of the pilot model of innovation, strengthening mediation and dialogue in resolving civil disputes and administrative complaints in 16 provinces and centrally-run cities, Comrade Nguyen Thuy Hien - Deputy Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court said that in localities where the pilot was implemented, the Standing Committees of the City and Provincial Party Committees paid attention and resolutely directed the implementation. After nearly 1 year of pilot implementation, the mediation and dialogue centers in 16 provinces and cities have successfully mediated and dialogued 36,985/47,492 cases, reaching 78.08%; which means that the courts do not have to handle 36,985 cases.

At the conference, there were many presentations and sharing of experiences and effective methods at the local level in implementing the mediation and dialogue model; in which many presentations received attention and were highly appreciated by the conference, such as presentations on the pilot mediation and dialogue work of the Provincial People's Court of Nghe An, the pilot mediation and dialogue work of the District People's Court in Binh Tan District, Ho Chi Minh City, presentations of experienced Mediators and Dialogue Officers, effective methods when dialogue administrative complaints in Long An, etc.

Increasing the effectiveness of judicial reform

Through discussion and discussion, the conference affirmed 9 advantages achieved through the implementation of the innovation model, strengthening mediation and administrative complaints in 16 provinces and cities in the past time. It emphasized the creation of conditions for the parties to exercise their rights and legitimate interests in the best way. At the same time, it met the wishes of the disputing parties, reducing costs for the parties and the state. On average, 1 successful mediation and dialogue case through the pilot is only 22% of the cost for the first instance trial of 1 civil and administrative case; the resolution time is fast and especially the case is resolved discreetly, information is kept confidential.

Staff of the Mediation and Dialogue Center at the People's Court of Nghe An province advise and mediate cases. Photo courtesy of Duc Cuong

Speaking at the Conference, Comrade Truong Thi Mai - Member of the Politburo, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Central Committee for Mass Mobilization acknowledged the results achieved after nearly 1 year of implementing the mediation and dialogue model in 16 provinces and cities; at the same time, highly appreciated the Supreme People's Court for proposing 14 solutions to improve work efficiency, contributing to judicial reform. In addition, the People's Courts at all levels have also performed well their assigned tasks, reducing the pressure of increasing cases, reconciling conflicts and complicated consequences among the people, contributing to strengthening mass mobilization work at the local level.

Comrade Truong Thi Mai -Politburo member, Party Central Committee Secretary, Head of the Central Mass Mobilization Commission gave a speech at the conference. Photo: Hoai Thu

Speaking at the conference, the Head of the Central Committee for Mass Mobilization noted two out of five viewpoints on mass mobilization work in implementing the dialogue and reconciliation model.The firstIt is necessary to promote the right to mastery and care for the legitimate interests of the people. Dialogue and reconciliation officials act as intermediaries so that both sides can speak and have their rights and interests taken care of.Mondayis to contribute to building a clean and strong government apparatus, specifically building a clean and strong court system, worthy of being a place for people to place their trust in justice and fairness. "Reconciliation and dialogue in court is mass mobilization work, so it is necessary to pay attention to the thoughts, aspirations, rights and legitimate interests of the people" - Comrade Truong Thi Mai emphasized.

Comrade Phan Dinh Trac - Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Central Internal Affairs Commission presentedCertificates of merit from the Prime Minister for individuals and groups with outstanding achievements in mediation and dialogue work. Photo: Hoai Thu

On this occasion, the Supreme People's Court announced the Prime Minister's Decision to award Certificates of Merit to 5 collectives and 2 individuals. The Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court awarded Certificates of Merit to 21 collectives and 21 individuals with outstanding achievements in mediation and dialogue work at the Court.