Bulgaria Celebrates New National Institute of Justice Building
Bulgaria’s Day of Awareness and Intellectual Pursuit was celebrated this year with the inauguration ceremony of the new building for the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). Live violin players, participation of Bulgarian government officials and members of the international community and a festive ambiance created by lighting and flowers in the Grand Hall commemorated the opening.
The efforts and care taken to renovate the building furthers NIJ’s mandate of judicial excellence by the training of leaders and magistrates. The building is a cultural monument, protected by the Government of Bulgaria (GOB), located in the old district of Sofia. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) financed the six months of interior renovations. The facility now contains seven training rooms, one large conference hall and office space for NIJ staff.
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| Dignitaries laud new for National Institute of Justice site (l to r): Dragomir Yordanov, NIJ Program Director, US Ambassador James Pardew, Ivan Grigorov, Chair, Supreme Court of Cassastion and Chair, NIJ Board, USAID Mission Director Debra McFarland, and Bulgarian Minister of Justice Anton Stankov. |
Speeches by His Excellency Ivan Grigorov, Chair Supreme Court of Cassation and NIJ Board; Anton Stankov, GOB Minister of Justice; His Excellency James Pardew, U.S. Ambassador to Bulgaria and Debra McFarland, Mission Director of USAID/Bulgaria were followed by a traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially mark the opening. The announcement of the new director of the NIJ Pencho Penev, who the NIJ Board approved the week before the opening, contributed to the opening celebration.
Developing a transparent and accountable Rule of Law (ROL) is a main priority for the US Government Assistance in Bulgaria. USAID/Bulgaria, through its Judicial Development Project (JDP), is the primary NIJ donor. The inauguration of the building represents a symbol of Bulgaria’s commitment to a fair, just and efficient judicial system. The building ensures an appropriate and effective training environment.
Formally beginning its activities in January 2004, the NIJ was created by statue via the Judicial System Act (JSA)(arts. 35F and 35g) in 2002. Its mandate calls for providing training to all new judges, prosecutors and investigators and continuing training to all magistrates and court staff. NIJ delivers appropriate and relevant training by professionally trained faculty using contemporary adult education methodologies and international judicial training best practices. This training contributes to a well informed and skilled judiciary that performs its tasks with the utmost effectiveness and efficiency.
The NIJ, a GOB organization, builds upon the successes and experiences of its predecessor, the Magistrates Training Center (MTC). The MTC, a not-for-profit organization, also funded by USAID, performed similar training functions from 1999 until 2002. Becoming a government organization ensures the financial sustainability of judicial training after USAID assistance ends.
Currently, the training programs carried out by NIJ focuses on judges. With the expansion of its institutional capacity, the NIJ will train prosecutors and investigators as well as court staff. To date, the NIJ/MTC has trained 5924 officials.
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