A delegation of the UIHJ composed of delegate Vice-Presidents Luis Ortega Alcubierre (Spain) and Sue Collins (USA), went to Chile with a threefold objective: meeting the Receptores, meeting the Chilean authorities and sign a cooperation agreement with the Centro de Estudios de Justicia de las Americas (CEJA). Objectives were met.
On 24 January, Luis Ortega Alcubierre and Sue Collins met in Santiago the Receptores, members of the UIHJ. During the discussion, Chilean colleagues discussed the current situation and the proposed creation of an enforcement officer, who is for the time being, reserved for lawyers having undergone special training. Luis Ortega Alcubierre compared the situation with Spain and reported the experience of the Procuradores. He stressed the importance of training for the profession.
On the 27th of January, a lengthy discussion was held with Monica Naranjo, legal coordinator at the Department of Modernization of Justice of the Ministry of Justice of Chile and Veronica Palma, from the same ministry. The discussion focused on the ongoing reforms in Chile. Luis Ortega Alcubierre assured the Chilean authorities of the support of the UIHJ and offered the assistance of its experts. It seems that Chile is likely to choose the liberal enforcement agent model, which is the European model. Once the project is completed, Chile will be the first Latin American country to implement such a system.
On the 28th of January, the delegation of the UIHJ visited the headquarters of the CEJA in Santiago to sign the cooperation agreement which had been discussed between the two organizations. It was received by its chairman, Jaime Arellano Quintala, former Deputy Minister of Justice of Chile, and Natalie Reyes, international consultant, with whom the UIHJ is in regular contact since September 2012, as part of a study conducted by the CEJA on enforcement in Europe. CEJA is an American agency of the InterAmerican system created in 1999 by a resolution of the Organization of American States (OAS). 34 countries are members of this organization.
The CEJA has three main objectives:
- To facilitate the training of justice sector personnel;
- To facilitate the exchange of information and other forms of technical cooperation; and
- To facilitate support for the reform and modernization of justice systems in the region.
The signed cooperation agreement will strengthen the links between CEJA and UIHJ. It aims at organizing conferences and seminars, conducting scientific work, or exchanging experts and expertise in common areas, including civil procedure and enforcement of judgments. Jaime Arellano Quintala said he was very pleased with the cooperation agreement. He praised the UIHJ for the quality of its work and its influence in the world.
The UIHJ also welcomed the signing of this agreement, which is part of its current policy of developing cooperation in international affairs with large organizations and universities.
More information on CEJA:
http://www.cejamericas.org
