OSCE Mission organizes seminar on fair trials for Georgian judiciary
TBILISI, 31 October 2005 - Twenty high-ranking representatives of the Georgian legal system have completed a seminar on the right to a fair trial. The sessions for representatives from all over Georgia were organized by the OSCE Mission and the Ministry of Justice in Bakuriani, in western Georgia.
"Judges, lawyers and prosecutors welcomed the opportunity to explore ways of ensuring the fundamental right to a fair trial," said Ambassador Roy Reeve, Head of the OSCE Mission to Georgia.
"The right to a fair trial is an essential pillar of democracy and rule of law," he added. "The Mission's initiatives in this area aim to help the Ministry of Justice develop an independent judiciary as the main protector of human rights in the country."
Among the participants, who examined international standards and challenges for holding independent and fair trials, was the Chairperson of the Supreme Court.
The seminar, which was delivered by Georgian experts, concluded with a 'Moot Court', based on a realistic case that addressed the fair trial principle as decided by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. At the mock proceedings, role play gave participants a deepened understanding of one another's roles.