The first day of the meeting took the form of a ‘mini-conference’ on the theme of ‘ Opening the Doors to Justice: The Challenge of Strengthening Public Access ’, with presentations by a number of leading experts in the field. This was intended to allow the opportunity for a free exchange of opinions on the ‘burning issues’ in the implementation of the third pillar of the Convention between a wider range of stakeholders than normally participate in task force meetings.

The Task Force meeting provided an opportunity to review the outcome of the regional workshop on access to justice involving senior members of the judiciary from six countries of Eastern Europe and South Caucasus (Kiev, 4-5 June 2007) and to consider plans for further such workshops as well as other awareness-raising and capacity building activities. The Task Force had also been asked by the Working Group of the Parties to discuss options for future work on access to justice at the forthcoming meeting. The mini-conference provided input to and inspiration for that discussion.

For further information about the work of the Task Force, see decision II/2 of the Meeting of the Parties which sets out its mandate.

We would like to draw your attention to paragraph 31 of Decision II/2 of the Meeting of the Parties which invites representatives of ministries of justice and/or similar national bodies with responsibility for the administration of justice and judicial authorities themselves, as well as representative organizations of the legal professions, to participate in the work of the Task Force.