50. On the other hand, strengthening public guidance and information has also been an
important dimension. Trial procedure information is widely accessed by all those concerned.
The courts also notify well in advance in the public domain through a special section of the
daily newspapers so that anyone concerned or implicated or with interest is informed about a
case. The date, time, procedures and the requirements are thus made public. This
supplements the availability of information to the accused and plaintiff in which registered
written summons on the planned court session are given. The office of registrar also provides
information to all those implicated and concerned in its daily routine work. This also includes
the written decision on the litigation few days after the court proceeding finishes.
51. Public defense still remains a major challenge of the justice system in the country. So far
there is no fully-fledged system of public defense as an institutionalized system that runs in
public-private partnership. Defendants who are deaf and dump, juvenile and those charged
with offense punishable with rigorous imprisonment exceeding ten years have access to a
legal right to public defense. Accordingly, the Court assigns a lawyer (a private practitioner)
to represent an individual charged in the above mentioned situations. The Ministry of Justice
has also assigned public defense from its personnel to represent individuals who are eligible
for public defense in the High Courts that function outside the capital Asmara.
52. In general, the basic tasks and challenges in the administration of justice are the following:
Updating procedural guidelines in the judiciary and law enforcement agencies
Strengthen coordination between judiciary and other law enforcement elements
Awareness raising of the public on rights and duties and responsibilities in the effective
implementation of the new national codes
Address Institution Capacity challenges
Establishment of effective data management of the judiciary process, etc…..
Zero Tolerance on Corruption
53. Eritrea inherited a devastated economy, destabilized social fabrics and a decadent system of
administration with corruptible culture systematically established by successive colonial
aims. Hence, as explained earlier, the Special Court was created under Proclamation No
85/1996 with mandates to investigate corruption. The policy that underpins its foundation is
the positive attitude of “zero tolerance for corruption”.
54. Since independence, continuous campaign to sensitize the people and the government
institutions on the matter has been going on. Nevertheless, there is no development
corruption in the country as development resources and practices are put to use promptly
with high level of accountability to the people. However, administrative malpractices do
surface in daily life but are vigorously dealt with both legally and administratively. Hence,
continuous struggle has been going to deny space to instances of favoritism, bribery,
negligence in public responsibility, lack of accountability, etc. These are greatly inherited
Page 15 of 100