An International Round Table “On the Role of Ministries of Justice in Shaping and Implementing Legal Policy of the CIS Member States” was held on March 12 at the headquarters of the Commonwealth of Independent States.
The forum was attended by representatives of:
- the ministries of justice and other relevant bodies of Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan;
- the CIS Economic Court;
- the Commonwealth Executive Committee.
CIS First Deputy Secretary-General Igor Petrishenko addressed the meeting. He recalled that the round table, organized to discuss a topic relevant to every state – the formation and implementation of legal policy – is taking place during the 35th anniversary of the Commonwealth.
He noted the important role of the CIS Justice Ministers Council in shaping legal cooperation. The Council’s activities serve as the foundation for developing international documents that have become guidelines for national legislations.
According to Igor Petrishenko, it is the ministries of justice that are the driving force ensuring the implementation of signed international treaties in their states. They play a key role in:
- implementing legal policy, acting as conductors of state interests in the legal sphere;
- ensuring legality, protecting citizens’ rights;
- maintaining the functioning of the legal system.
The CIS First Deputy Secretary-General also identified increasing the level of legal culture as an important factor in implementing state legal policy.
He noted that the decision adopted by the heads of state declaring 2027 the Year of Legal Education in the CIS would allow for a series of events aimed at explaining to citizens of the CIS states their rights and obligations, and would also contribute to the further development of legal cooperation across the Commonwealth space.