July 5 , 2000
Convocation of magistrates from the People’S Republic of China at Université de Montréal
 

The second edition of the Canada-China Senior Judges Training Project, a program of study and internships for seventeen Chinese judges, who are trainees from the Chinese National Magistracy College supervised by the People’s Supreme Court of China, has just ended with a Diploma ceremony attended by a number of dignitaries and representatives of the Canadian magistracy. The program was organized by the Faculty of Law of the Université de Montréal, in conjunction with McGill University and the Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice. The course, ten months in duration, was designed to familiarize participating Chinese judges with the two major Western legal systems (civil law and common law), and prepares them to work within the Chinese legal system, which must now adapt itself to the reality of a market economy and interact with international partners.

” This innovative experience has brought together the resources and expertise of two major Faculties of Law and one Institute dedicated to legal training in a Canadian context for the benefit of the future elite of the Chinese magistracy. The education of Chinese judges undoubtedly constitutes a fundamental link in establishing the rule of law in China,” noted the Project Director, Professor Hélène Dumont.

The seventeen judges will return to China the day after the ceremony, on July 6. They will pass on what they have learned to Chinese magistrates as instructors in the National Magistracy College. In addition, their own training will continue in China with a series of seminars, courses and lectures on ethical, legal and pedagogical issues that extends until March 2000, and which will involve various Canadian specialists.

This magistrates’ training project, for which CIDA has set aside four million dollars over a three-year period, is the result of an agreement signed by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and the Chinese Premier Li Peng during the Team Canada tour of Asia in 1994.

-30-

For information
Martine Dorval
Direction des communications
Téléphone: (514) 343-7704
Téléavertisseur: (514) 423-0651

Research in the releases from 1998, 1999 et 2000