Contacts: Monica Echeverria-Cota (202) 473-1315
Pelayo Alvarez (202) 473-4306
WASHINGTON, October 22, 1998 — The World Bank today approved a US$33 million loan to Guatemala for a Judicial Reform Project to address the institutional effectiveness and access problems of the judiciary system.
The objective of the project is to create a more effective, accessible, and credible judicial system that would foster public trust and confidence in it and improve consistency and equity in the application of the law. By doing so, the project would strengthen the state's role as its guarantor and provider. It would also contribute towards social reconstruction and strengthening peace in rural and urban areas, pursuant to the Peace Accords.
The project would promote the establishment of social peace and economic development, strengthen the rule of law and democratic institutions, improve citizen security, improve respect for cultural and human rights, and facilitate the implementation of the Peace Accords. Improved performance of the Judiciary Branch would enhance access to justice for marginalized segments of society including women, children, small businesses and other groups in the interior of the country. In addition, economic activity can be expected to benefit from increased trust in the judicial system.
"The project has been prepared by the Judicial Branch Modernization Commission, adopting a participatory approach with the support from the World Bank and other partners, including UNDP, IDB and USAID. In this process 32 percent of the judges, several court administrators, and NGOs participated in development of plans and diagnostics,"QUOTE" says Task Manager Waleed H. Malik.
The US$33 million, single currency, LIBOR-based loan has 20 years to maturity, including a 5-year grace period. |
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