Bolivia

Justice Denied: the urgent need for meaningful reform of the justice system in Bolivia

In November 2006, the HRI released a report on access to justice in Bolivia after a mission following threats to the independence of the judiciary in the country. A high level delegation visited the country in August and carried out extensive consultations with the Deputy Minister for Justice and other public servants whose roles are related to the legal profession. The delegation concluded that a number of issues needed to be urgently addressed to prevent further deterioration in the rule of law, pointing to problems such as the politicisation of appointment procedures and a lack of public faith in the legal system. The report urges the Bolivian authorities to engage in meaningful dialogue with the judiciary on all the issues concerned.

In June 2007 the IBA issued a statement expressing concern over President Evo Morales' recent criticism of the nation's judges and call for members of the Constitutional Court to be tried by Congress.

Read the press release