A/HRC/4/3 page 18 III. AN AMBITIOUS COMPREHENSIVE PROJECT FOR JUSTICE REFORM TO CONSOLIDATE THE RETURN TO CONSTITUTIONAL LEGALITY A. Plan of Action of the Ministry of Justice 59. The Ministry of Justice recently finalized an ambitious plan of action comprising three phases: the first phase (October 2006-June 2007) is devoted to priority reforms (laws on firearms control, security agencies, reorganization of the Ministry of Justice, and ratification of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the three protocols thereto, and of the United Nations Convention against Corruption). 60. Six working groups have also been set up to deal with civil status reform, juvenile delinquency, measures to combat corruption, preparation of a bill on legal assistance, organization of the legal profession, and reform of the Code of Criminal Procedure. 61. In addition, three planned reforms - which will be personally overseen by the Minister of Justice - are the subject of the bills set out below; the bills are currently being finalized. The independent expert also attaches great importance to these bills, which he recommended in vain in all his previous reports. He hopes that the regrettable tension in the judiciary does not delay Parliament’s adoption of these bills. 62. While reservations can be made concerning the conception of a given reform, the Plan of Action has the advantage of introducing a coherent vision of the future of the justice system. B. Bill on the reform of the judiciary regulations 63. In his previous report, the independent expert underscored the urgency and importance of this reform in the following terms: “Reform of the judiciary regulations seems to be a dead letter, although it would appear to be a high priority, since there is little point in creating a Supreme Council of the Judiciary if there are no regulations to be enforced that will put an end to the arbitrary acts, favouritism and self-promotion which are all too apparent, whether with regard to appointments, promotions, transfers, renewal of terms, the recent terminations of jurisdiction, or now, automatic retirement” (E/CN.4/2006/115, para. 69). 64. This bill, which has been finalized, should now be adopted - in addition to the bill on the Judicial Training College - concomitantly with the bill on the Supreme Council of Justice. C. Reform of the Supreme Council of Justice 65. The Transitional Government’s text elicited criticism from most NGOs, which complained of a lack of genuine consultation in its preparation. On this occasion, the texts were submitted for consultation, including at a meeting held in September 2006. Some NGOs maintained their reservations or criticisms, on the ground that the consultation was too prefunctory (for example, the Ecumenical Centre for Human Rights undertook a substantial analysis in the context of the Civic Forum for Justice Reform, which brings together most civil society human rights organizations. The independent expert wishes to highlight the improvements in the following areas: