The fifth version of the Inter-American Training Program on Civil Justice Reform was launched at an event that featured the participation of Executive Director Jaime Arellano and staff members from the Justice Studies Center of the Americas (JSCA).

The program is being organized by JSCA and developed in the context of the project “Improving Access to Civil Justice in Latin America” with the technical and financial support of the Canadian government. The first phase of the program ran from August 3 through 7, and the participants are from Argentina, Brazil, Peru and El Salvador.

The instructors include Executive Director Jaime Arellano, Training Director Leonel González, Research and Projects Director Marco Fandiño, Associate Researcher and Program Coordinator Ananías Reyes, and Associate Researchers Alejandra Bocardo, Laura Cora, María José del Solar and Matías Sucunza.

The following issues were addressed during the first phase of the program: justice system reform from a public policy perspective, civil justice and civil procedure models, the use of oral procedures and due process, the structure of oral civil proceedings, new evidentiary institutions for new civil justice, judicial management and large case volumes, case management, class action and collective proceedings, unmet judicial needs and civil justice reform, judging with a gender perspective and civil trial by jury.

The students have already begun the intermediate virtual phase, which runs through November 15 on the CEJACAMPUS virtual platform. A second virtual phase will follow, during which participants will be trained on litigation techniques and tools.

It is important to note that JSCA is committed to providing the best tools to program participants despite the current circumstances. The goal of the training is to allow students to become key stakeholders in the promotion of civil justice reforms in their countries and/or communities. In view of this, the program has been developed virtually but synchronically with JSCA staff taking all of the steps necessary to ensure that the training activity is enriching and productive for all participants.