National Day/ Justice Ministry Strives to Improve Access to Services

Doha, December 10 (QNA) - The Ministry of Justice has stepped up efforts to develop and expand services rendered to the public, and enhanced its role with respect to raising awareness about laws and training its employees in accordance with its clear strategy that aimed at fulfilling the objectives and aspirations of Qatar National Vision 2030. The Justice Ministry Strategy is founded on three key pillars mainly aimed to upgrade and improve access to services, to enhance the Ministry's infrastructure and to develop human resources and Qatari cadres. In cooperation with the Ministry of Administrative Development, the Ministry completed organizational structure of its department to keep pace with the comprehensive growth taking place in the country. In this context, it initiated evening services to the public for the first time, and opened seven new branches in Al Khor, Al Wakra, Al Zubarah, Mseimeer and Umm Salal and at the Interior Ministry's Industrial Services Center and at the Ministry of Economy and Commerce. In order to modernize and develop the electronic services and create smart phones applications, the Ministry of Justice formed a committee to accomplish this goal as well as facilitate the public access to the ministry services. The introduction of one window system along with the development of the real estate registration and documentation departments allowed the ministry to issue the title of ownership that meets all requirements in one day. At the same time the use of automated systems continued to improve access to services. The Ministry is currently working on the establishment of an electronic database (real estate and cadastral) and on archiving all property documents to preserve it. Within the framework of importance attached to Qatari cadres, the ministry implemented a comprehensive training program, offered scholarships and attracted more Qataris. The Ministry of Justice gave top priority to develop laws to cope with the social and economic development in the country in order to preserve the rights of citizens while enhancing the attractiveness of investing in the country. The Ministry's legal department also made great achievements in drafting and updating legislations and laws as well as in defending government ministries and institutions before judicial bodies in the country. The State Lawsuits Department at the Ministry represented the ministries and other government institutions and public bodies in several lawsuits in 2013/2014. Most of the lawsuits were won by the state. The total lawsuits in 2013 reached 1127 cases. Most of the 709 verdicts issued in 2013 were in favor of the state bodies In the Agreements and International Cooperation, the Department studied 276 international co-operation agreements in 2013/2014, and made considerable contribution to advance legal cooperation on regional and international levels. The ministry also reviewed legal topics and queries presented by international organizations or countries and provided its viewpoints on them and attended regional international forums and events. It studied 44 international documents and topics. The Ministry's documentation sections completed 68799 transactions from January 1 to September 24, 2014. The internal audit department also implemented the annual auditing plan for 2013/14 and is carrying out the auditing plan for 2014/15. The contract department completed 788 contracts and studied the draft procurement law in addition to 15 legal viewpoints as well as established electronic portal and released copies of official gazettes, and printed a set of legislation and laws, among others. Regarding the achievements of the National Committee for the International Humanitarian Law, the Committee formed three sub-committees from among its members namely the legislation and agreements and international cooperation committee and the awareness, education and information committee and the studies and education and training committee. Each sub-committee with at least three members was given the right to appoint a rapporteur to coordinate its actions. Each of the sub-committee shall prepare its one-year work plan (and its operational plan) and provide semi-annual report on its activities to the Committee. The action plan aimed at developing and approving the general policy for international law dissemination and implementation. In the field of legislation harmonization and international cooperation, awareness and education, roundtable was organized on international humanitarian law in cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross (Regional Mission of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf) and in cooperation with the legal and judicial studies center in May 2014. The Committee participated in relevant international events related to its work and attended the second consultative meeting to promote compliance with international humanitarian law in Geneva, Switzerland, in April 2013. The Committee also participated in the roundtable, which was held in San Remo, Italy, by the International Institute of International Humanitarian Law in cooperation with the foreign and defense ministries in September 2013. The Committee also attended the 37th roundtable which was held in San Remo, Italy, in last September and addressed the current issues related to international humanitarian law. (END)