Community Justice Facilitators

Community Justice Facilitator Program was created at the end of the nineties, with technical support Organization of American States OAS, with the aim that the state reduces conflicts, that the courts relieve the burden of files and make it easier for citizens to access institutions that dispense justice.

It should be noted that before implementation in Republic of Panama National Community Justice Facilitator Programit has already been successfully applied in Nicaragua, after its application in other regions such as Argentina, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Paraguay. in The Community Program for Judicial Mediators in the Republic of Panama was established in 2008when The Supreme Court of Justice in the form of its President Harry Mitchell reach an agreement of understanding with Secretary General of the Organization of American States José Miguel Insulza.

So, for the implementation of the program of Court mediators of the Supreme Court of Justice with technical support The Organization of American States creates a legal framework for its activities, so we have Agreement no. 723 of the 21st November 2008, by which The National System of Community Judicial Mediators and Executive Order 777 of December 21, 2007, regulations governing issues related to Mediation in the community.

In this sense he says: the National System of Community Justice Facilitatorsemphasizing as its main function, that it serves as a link between citizens and the judicial authority, and guarantees the right and effective access to justice.

Similarly, the system seeks to promote a culture of peace in communities benefited from the program and in turn strengthen mechanisms for prevention and alternative conflict resolution as a way to maintain peaceful coexistence among members of society.

In particular, Court mediators They compile controversies that arise between members of their communities and educate the community on issues of health, justice, environment, conflict resolution among many others, in order to educate the community and thus prevent conflicts and achieve peaceful coexistence.

At the time of creation, it was indicated that with the program of Community Justice Facilitators effective access to justice for beneficiaries in vulnerable conditions is sought and thereby adopt true contributing synergies adopt a community-oriented policy.

After establishment community of service users will convene an assembly or an open council meeting, where a person with the quality of a community leader will be elected democratically and voluntarily to represent them as a judicial assistant, who will work for free in close cooperation with the municipal judge of the area, who will be their coordinator.

Participate in the selection of court leaders In the open council, candidates must be over twenty-one years of age, be of Panamanian nationality, have completed basic studies, be a recognized leader in their community, not have been convicted of crimes of fraud, lying or fraud, be a resident of the corregimiento, where they will perform their work, and not hold office party politician, nor do political proselytism.

Checked the requirements and after the candidates were selected, accompanied by the judicial authorities For those selected, there will be an introduction and training in the field of mediation in the community for a minimum of 40 hours. Once the course is satisfactorily completed, mediator certifications will be processed sooner Ministry of Government and Justice.

Finally, they will be able to conduct community mediation meetings in such controversies as; annoying noises, fights, pets or animals at large, burning, neighborhood and installation and service basic technicians such as plumbing, carpentry, carpentry, electricity, sheet metal, painting and mechanics.

Also in disputes about rural and urban trees, water filtration, partition walls and fences, irrigation, use of common areas, expansion, improvement, damage or occupation of property, pastures and all those conflicts subject to transactions or negotiations that arise within the community, and that can be subject to these mechanisms without breaking the law.
Until 2017, work on Court mediators was consolidated into Republic of Panama there are 1,247 leaders, distributed in ten provinces and 29 leaders in districts Muna and Ñurum corresponding to Ngöbe Buglé Comarca.

Accordingly, we note that Court mediators In their daily work, they convey the justice of the peace, trying to manage situations or conflicts in the neighborhood or community in a more dialogic, participatory, less formal, agile and fast way.

It is necessary to notice that the creation System of judicial mediators initially started with technical support for Organization of American Statesthrough the Inter-American Program of Facilitators, and with financial support The Netherlands, however, from 2018 to date, the program is fully administered by the government
Panama, through the judicial branch.