It all started eight years ago, in 2001, when a group of prosecutors felt the need to affirm and protect the position and reputation of their profession and founded the Prosecutors' Association of Serbia. Serbia was attempting to build its democracy at the time: it was a time of changes and reforms.

When a country is in the midst of a transition of power, ensuring the independence of institutions is crucial. Since it was to be expected that it would take time before the state government had the opportunity and resources to answer to the needs of prosecutors, the Association took it upon itself to act as a partner of the Ministry of Justice in the process of strengthening the rule of law in the country.

Since that time, the Association has been pursuing its main goals, which are: to maintain the independence of prosecutors from the executive and legislative powers; to foster and promote co-operation with other prosecutors' associations; and to raise and maintain the professionalism of its members.

Membership grew quickly and now includes 580 of the 800 prosecutors in Serbia.

The OSCE Mission to Serbia has supported the Association from the beginning, helping it to build its internal structures and management capacities. Through training courses and workshops, it has familiarized the Association's members with international best practices regarding the independence and accountability of prosecutors.

Achievements of the Association

"More than 250 members of the Prosecutors' Association of Serbia have actively participated in drafting laws, delivering training, providing services for victims, educating social and health workers, raising environmental awareness, study visits and so on," explains Goran Ilic, the Association's president.

The Association was a partner in drafting crucial pieces of legislation, such as the "Law on Prosecutors" and the "Law on the High Prosecutorial Council", both adopted in 2008.

The OSCE Mission to Serbia worked together with the Association to write the "Criteria for Evaluation and Promotion of the Work of Prosecutors", published in 2008, the first document of its kind in Serbia.

The Prosecutors' Association of Serbia has produced numerous other publications ranging from monthly newsletters to manuals and books relating to prosecutors and their work.

It currently has six working groups, which deal with matters such as defining the constitutional position of the Public Prosecutor's Office, establishing contacts with non-governmental organizations, public relations and dealing with media.

Serge Brammertz exchanges experiences with Serbian peers

Perhaps the best proof of the Prosecutors' Association of Serbia's success was provided earlier this month, when Prosecutor Serge Brammertz of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) came to Belgrade upon the invitation of the Association to talk about his professional experiences and to familiarize his Serbian peers with his work as an ICTY prosecutor. On 15 December 2009, he participated in a roundtable that gathered around 80 prosecutors from all parts of Serbia.

"It is crucial for prosecutors to preserve autonomy, independence and integrity in their work, whether they are prosecutors on the national or the international level. Only then will their work lead to the successful prosecution of crimes," Brammertz told participants in the roundtable.

According to Ruth Van Rhijn, Head of the Rule of Law Department of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, Brammertz' visit showed "that the Association has become a credible professional organization and a partner in the judicial reform process."

"The OSCE believes that only with the pro-active involvement of professional organizations can the judicial reform process take place in a transparent and inclusive manner," Van Rhijn declared.

The Prosecutors' Association of Serbia is most definitely on the right track and the OSCE Mission to Serbia will continue to support its involvement in the judicial reform process.