Doha, December 16 (QNA) - HE President of the Judicial Inspection Authority at the Supreme Judiciary Council (SJC), Judge Ahmed Al Mansouri, affirmed that the Judicial Code of Conduct, issued by SJC in the State of Qatar, has reinforced judicial independence, integrity, and impartiality.

He stressed that the code has effectively contributed to the advancement of the judicial system, yielding positive results that have promoted standards of conduct and outstanding performance across the nation's judiciary.

Speaking during a session within the Conference of the States Parties (CoSP11) to the UN Convention Against Corruption in Doha, HE Al Mansouri highlighted that this Code represents one of the most powerful practical tools to curb corruption within the judiciary.

It removes gray areas, establishes clear rules regarding conflicts of interest, courtesies, and professional and personal relationships, and sets standards delineating what is prohibited and permissible, forming the first line of defense against any manifestation of corruption, he emphasized.

Al Mansouri further explained that the strict and rigorous application of the Code, linked to effective oversight and accountability mechanisms, minimizes any opportunity for behavioral deviations or the proliferation of improper practices.

This ensures the maintenance of judicial independence, authority, and integrity, Al Mansouri emphasized, stressing that these principles foster an institutional culture that combats corruption, shields judges from pressure and coercion, and provides official support to reject improper interventions.

The Code, he outlined, offers a reference framework enabling judges to act lawfully, regularly self-assess, and ensure adherence to impartiality, dignity, and balance.

Al Mansouri further elaborated that implementing the Code requires mandatory adherence to ethics, practical workshops simulating real-life scenarios, and periodic evaluations of judicial conduct.

These measures, he said, instill in judges the understanding that any violation of the Code constitutes a direct breach of public trust and strikes at the essence of the judicial mandate.

This necessitates safeguarding justice, ensuring the quality of rulings, and reinforcing integrity by identifying areas for improvement, enhancing performance, and activating judicial performance oversight through the Inspection Authority, Al Mansouri underlined.

He clarified that the Inspection Authority operates within limits that do not infringe upon judicial independence or freedom, asserting that its role is confined to monitoring performance, procedural soundness, and adherence to the Code, positioning it as a tool for development rather than oversight over authority.

The Authority prioritizes reducing case backlogs, improving session management, expediting rulings, and enhancing technical efficiency. In essence, it serves to protect judicial independence, prevent misconduct, and reinforce public trust while upholding judges' autonomy and responsibility in their performance without compromising justice, Al Mansouri elaborated.

Al Mansouri further noted that the primary objective of judicial inspection is to support quality and safeguard confidence, and that reconciling judicial independence with accountability is possible through a set of principles and guarantees.

Inspection should be regarded as a performance oversight tool, not an authority oversight tool, aimed at improving quality, monitoring deficiencies, and ensuring adherence to the Code. Oversight focuses on professional discipline, behavioral standards, and procedural integrity, Al Mansouri concluded.

He highlighted that the Authority in Qatar has pursued an amalgam of standards and regulations that have effectively contributed to strengthening performance and productivity.

For his part, Secretary-General of The Hague Academy of International Law and Professor at Paris-Nanterre University, Professor Jean-Marc Thouvenin, discussed the Bangalore Principles on Judicial Conduct and their role in combating corruption within the judiciary.

He noted that the Bangalore Principles are an amalgamation of global ethical standards developed by judges to strengthen judicial integrity and independence, comprising six core principles: independence, impartiality, integrity, propriety, equality, competence, and diligence.

President of the Court of Appeal of Porto (Portugal), Jose Igreja Matos, lauded the Qatari judiciary's efforts in recent years, emphasizing close collaboration with the UN, particularly the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Matos highlighted the significance of judicial independence and integrity and the factors shaping policies on impartiality and integrity, including the judge as a member of society, international principles and laws, rule of law, and public awareness of judicial integrity.

President of the Siracusa International Institute for Criminal Justice and Human Rights, Jean-Francois Thony, touched on the role of criminal courts in enforcing judicial impartiality and integrity, drawing on his experience in drafting judicial codes of conduct across international judicial institutions.

Thony applauded the State of Qatar for its efforts in drafting the Judicial Code of Conduct and the pivotal role of SJC in unifying definitions of these principles and ensuring their effective implementation.

He stressed that enforcement of international standards must be enduring, as judiciary is essential to democracy, and without integrity, public trust erodes, endangering the entire democratic system. (QNA)