Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

1. Trial Monitoring Co-ordination

Since 2005, at the request of all OSCE field operations carrying out trial or legal systems monitoring programmes, ODIHR Rule of Law has facilitated inter-mission trial monitoring meetings. As a result, ODIHR published in May 2008 a Reference Manual for Practitioners on Trial Monitoring. The Manual contains best practices and lessons learned and also gives useful advice on matters that have been identified by field operations as relevant (such as access to and confidentiality of information, the principle of non-interference, and the training of trial monitors). The third inter-mission meeting took place in November 2008 in Skopje and was held in the form of a conference containing a training component on the European Convention on Human Rights. ODIHR Rule of Law suggested the creation of a trial monitoring resource centre and the establishment of an online discussion forum on the topic. Further meetings will be held over the course of the coming two years.

2. Judicial Training

All OSCE field operations - especially those in the Balkans - are involved in training for the benefit of the judiciary (and prosecutors). However, little or no communication at all has taken place between these operations. A forum for the exchange of information does not currently exist. ODIHR Rule of Law will compile relevant information on judicial training carried out so far by OSCE field operations, identify best practices and lessons learned, and plan follow-up activities accordingly.