CHAPTER THREE: DEMOCRACY AND POLITICAL GOVERNANCE _____________________________________________________________________ 225. Aware of these shortcomings, the government implemented the National Action Plan for Judicial Reform (PANRJ) with the support of TFPs, with such plan covering the period 2002 to 2006. This was followed by a plan of consolidation for the period 2007 to 2009 aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of the services of justice and maximising the gains of PANRJ 2002-2006. 226. These plans, one purpose of which is to bring justice to the citizen, have, inter alia, allowed for the construction of major infrastructure, for an increase in court equipment and for the recruitment of new judges. Of the 15 courts whose construction was planned in the PANRJ 2002-2006, five have already been completed. For the period 2007 to 2009, the target will be to complete the remainder and add five more courts to the six provided for in the original programme, making a total of 11 courts (Court of First Instance – TGI). As regards human resources, the government has, since 2001, increased the number of judges recruited each year from 15 in 1995 to 30. At the same time, ongoing training is provided for judges to increase their efficiency. 227. In each jurisdiction, there is a reception centre where staff of the centre educate citizens. In order to ensure equal access to justice for all citizens, the principle of gratuitous justice is proclaimed by the constitution and is confirmed by the civil and criminal procedure codes. To give concrete form to this principle, the law (on judicial organisation) provides legal assistance for people who are not able to meet the costs of trial. However, this system is not yet functioning, for the structures responsible for its administration have not yet been implemented. 228. Despite the efforts made by the government, access to justice continues to be problematic for the citizens of Burkina Faso. Objective 2 of the PANRJ, which entails expanding access to justice, had an average achievement rate of 37%. With regard to the individual components of the objective, the achievement rate was only: 229. 116 • 55% with regard to the dissemination of information and the promotion of communication in the field of justice; • 75% with regard to the dissemination of information, the promotion of communication and the provision of education on human rights; • 6% with regard to the creation of new infrastructure; and • 11% in respect of the rehabilitation and management of premises housing judicial services. There are also other recurrent problems: • Human and financial resources are inadequate. • The institutional capacity of the courts is weak. The courts are underequipped and there are insufficient staff members. Moreover, inadequate