The "Crystal Scales of Justice" competition, first launched in 2005, is organised annually by the Council of Europe to highlight innovative and efficient pratices used in European Courts for court organisation of for the conduct of judicial proceedings (for example, initiatives devised by a court president, a registry, a Bar) and deserving to be drawn to the attention of policy-makers and the judicial community so as to improve the functioning of the public justice system.

The prize is awarded by a jury of European legal professionals and the award ceremony takes palce within the framework of the European Day of Justice.

European Crystal Scales of Justice Prize Strasbourg 1 October 2021
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French Ministry of Justice wins the Council of Europe Crystal Scales of Justice Prize

The 2021 European "Crystal Scales of Justice" prize, organised by the Council of Europe and rewarding innovative judicial practices within European judicial institutions, was awarded to the French Ministry of Justice on 1st October 2021 in Ljubljana (Slovenia) for a project "Simplified filing of complaints in hospital for victims of domestic violence", in the presence of Mr Zlatko Ratej, State Secretary at the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Slovenia and of Mr Christophe Poirel, Director of Human Rights of the Council of Europe, as well as the members of the jury of the competition composed of prominent personalities in the field of justice (online and in person). This event has been organised at the invitation of the Supreme Court of Slovenia, winner of the former edition of the Prize (2019).

The project "Simplified filing of complaints in hospitals for victims of domestic violence" allows investigating authorities to receive complaints from victims of domestic violence directly in medical facilities. This system strengthens the protection of victims by providing them with a simplified procedure, enabling them to lodge a complaint at the very moment and place where the violence was reported. This system is expected to be expanded across the entirety of France.

Special mentions were also awarded to the two following projects:

- A virtual quiz called "Courtbattle" and specific learning websites created for primary and secondary schools and high schools consisting of different thematic modules including a mock trial session, Denmark, Courts Administration;

- Implementation, development and strengthening of the Public Justice Centre of Odessa Region, Ukraine, Kyiv District Court of Odessa [Link to the video].

The representatives of the awarded initiatives will be invited to present their project at the CEPEJ plenary meeting in early December 2021.

 Press release
Simplified hospital complaints procedure for victims of domestic violence: French Ministry of Justice wins the Council of Europe Crystal Scales of Justice Prize

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