Open Justice Project in North Macedonia

• Eligibility criteria:
  – U.S.-based non-profit/non-governmental organizations (NGOs);
  – U.S.-based educational institutions subject to section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. tax code;
  – Foreign-based non-profits/non-governmental organizations (NGOs);
  – Foreign-based educational institutions
• Type of funding: Programmatic
• Target country: North Macedonia, USA
• Application language: English

In North Macedonia, trust in the justice sector is low according to recent polls, causing a lack of confidence in judicial institutions. Deficient justice sector transparency fueled by low interaction with media which can inform the public, further undermines citizen confidence in the judiciary. A lack of clear public rules and policies about access to public records (e.g., court records) contributes to this environment.  Relations between media and judiciary members can be challenging.  Judges often lack the communication skills to interact with reporters who are, in turn, not educated about procedures regarding investigations, prosecutions, and trials.

Improving the skills, knowledge, and behavior of media and judicial representatives can help bridge the gap to educate the public, enhancing transparency and accountability of the judiciary. For example, investigative reporters can strengthen their knowledge of legal and ethical restrictions for court disclosure of information and judges can further understand the role and importance of the media to promote citizen access to information.

See here to learn more and apply.