ODIHR trains NGOs in south Kyrgyzstan on trial monitoring

The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) shared its trial-monitoring methodology with representatives of non-governmental organizations from the south of Kyrgyzstan, in two days of training organized in co-operation with the OSCE Centre in Bishkek and held in Osh on 23 and 24 March 2012.

The participants, who included NGO representatives from the cities of Osh, Batken and Jalalabad, were trained on the principles, objectives and methodology of ODIHR’s trial-monitoring programme, based on Trial-Monitoring: A Reference Manual for Practitioners, published by the Office in 2008.

The training session was specifically designed to assist NGOs in monitoring more sensitive stages of criminal proceedings, focusing particularly on the judicial authorization of arrests and the detention of suspects.

Participants were presented with a comprehensive overview of fair trial rights, including the right to an effective defence and the right to liberty. They also benefited from an exchange of good practices and experiences with Saša Bojanić, a national legal adviser from the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“The training session was very timely, in light of ongoing efforts to reform the judicial system in Kyrgyzstan,” said Jenishbek Toroev, Director of the Osh-based Human Rights Advocacy Centre. “Civil society can use the OSCE trial-monitoring methodology to advocate for positive changes in the country’s criminal justice system.”

The training was part of ODIHR’s work to assist NGOs in participating States to conduct professional trial monitoring in line with OSCE and other international standards.