News in English     | 25.04.2018. 15:55 |

EU and OSCE’s support to work of justice institutions in BiH continues

FENA Press release

SARAJEVO, April 25 (FENA) – A specialized three-day training course on trial advocacy in war crimes cases for prosecutors of the Special War Crimes Department on the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) concluded today in Sarajevo.

The course was organized by the OSCE Mission to BiH within the European Union (EU)-funded War Crimes Monitoring Project with the aim of achieving the efficient processing of war crimes cases in line with international standards, reads the statement of the OSCE.

The objective of the course was to increase participants’ theoretical and practical knowledge in trial advocacy, including direct and cross-examination, delivering of opening and closing statements and the use of evidence in an adversarial system of advocacy.  

“This training course is a great example of constructive partnership between national judicial institutions and the EU Delegation to BiH and OSCE Mission to BiH in improving the professionalism and quality of trials in BiH,” said Gordana Tadić, Acting Chief Prosecutor of BiH. “The Special War Crimes Department has 28 prosecutors in total, with investigators, experts and other specialized staff. Since the establishment of this Department, prosecutors have raised indictments against more than 800 accused persons.”

Jadranka Lokmić-Misirača, Vice President of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of BiH and Chairperson of the Supervisory Body for Overseeing the Implementation of the National Strategy for War Crimes Processing, stressed the importance of this training course for enhancing the professional capacities of prosecutors and prosecutorial staff. “The course contributes to the overall goal of reducing the backlog of war crimes cases. It is also an opportunity for participants to exchange experiences and discuss current obstacles to advancing the effectiveness of war crimes processing.”

Lejla Hrustanović, Program Manager at the EU Delegation to BiH highlighted the results achieved so far under the project and emphasized the importance of such training courses. “The backlog of war crimes cases in BiH has been reduced by over 30 per cent since 2014, which is a recognizable achievement. However, there is an ever-present impetus to keep developing knowledge and skills in substantive and procedural areas of processing cases.” Ms. Hrustanović added that the course is a unique opportunity to expand important trial skills that contribute directly to the work of state-level prosecutors.  

Joeri Maas, Chief of Policy and Planning Unit of the OSCE Mission, said: “The OSCE Mission to BiH recognizes the importance of the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH in delivering justice to victims, in particular through its role in processing the most complex conflict-related cases. The continued collaboration between the Mission and the Prosecutor’s Office is essential to achieving the goals of efficient and effective processing of war crimes cases.”

The War Crimes Cases Monitoring Project, aimed at facilitating the work of justice institutions in BiH, is funded by the EU to the amount of EUR 500,000 and is being implemented by the OSCE Mission to BiH from October 2016 to the beginning of 2019.

(FENA)
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