Summary

As part of a broader GAO review of U.S. assistance to bring about judicial reform abroad, this report focuses on U.S. efforts to improve Colombia's judicial system. GAO has already issued reports on U.S. efforts to improve the judicial systems in El Salvador and Panama. GAO discusses (1) the approach the United States used to manage its judicial reform assistance to Colombia and (2) the program activities undertaken and planned by the host government and the United States in this reform effort.

GAO found that: (1) from 1986 through 1990, the Agency for International Development (AID) used small projects managed by a private Colombian foundation to build consensus among the judiciary, the executive branch, and the private sector on the importance of judicial reform, an approach that was different from those used in two Central American countries; (2) the design of the Courts of Public Order was the most visibly successful project while the most significant impact was the commitment of key officials on the need to reform; (3) in August 1991, the two governments signed a 6-year, $36-million grant agreement to implement further judicial reform, with initial funding based on the Colombian government's commitment to reform; (4) U.S. officials established a multiagency approach to judicial reform by coordinating activities of different U.S. agencies' programs; (5) to succeed, judicial reform programs must be an embassy priority for proper management and coordination, which is dependent on the ambassador's management style; (6) recognizing the need for a comprehensive approach to judicial reform, Colombia ratified a new constitution that established an independent judiciary, procedural improvements, modern and independent means for investigating and prosecuting criminal acts, oversight agencies, and protection of citizens' human rights; and (7) the AID project will complement the three goals of Colombia's judicial reform program by focusing on improving the judicial sector's organization and planning capabilities, improving the investigation and prosecution of crimes while ensuring judicial protection, investigating corruption and human rights violations, and improving the operation, administration, and independence of the courts.