The Head of EUPOL COPPS (HoM), Karin Limdal, reaffirmed the Mission’s commitment to continuing its support to enhance the effectiveness of the criminal justice system in Palestine, during a meeting with the Head of the Palestinian Bar Association (PBA), Lawyer Fadi Abbas, held in Ramallah on 9 January. Lawyers play a vital role in safeguarding human rights, agreed Mrs. Limdal and Mr Abbas during the meeting. Training of legal professionals, early legal representation for juveniles, legal aid and law drafting were among the topics of discussion.

The HoM expressed her interest in the progress made by the PBA and the justice institutions, in particular on legislation, namely of the Criminal Procedures Code and on Legal Aid. The head of the PBA announced that the PBA is working on a legal aid system that will be presented to the upcoming general body meeting, according to the legal mechanisms. The HoM also emphasised the significance of the collaborative work between the mission and the PBA in promoting the right to early legal representation for juveniles, framing it as a pilot project aimed at extending this right to all citizens. Furthermore, the HoM highlighted the importance of mutual efforts to establish the Female Lawyers Network, whose official launch the Head of the PBA agreed to.

The engagement of Civil Society Organisations in discussions related to the amendment of the Criminal Procedures Code, as linked to fundamental constitutional rights of Palestinian citizens, was also discussed and the HoM outlined the support the Mission is providing to the Palestinian Council of Ministers to establish a more consultative and participatory legislative process.