Promoting Access to Criminal Justice through Enhancing Law Enforcement Agencies’ Capacity to Investigate Serious Crime

The ability of law enforcers to effectively investigate serious crimes, including those committed by organized groups, is an important component of national security. The war against Ukraine has complicated the task of combating such criminal activity. It has also made the need to pay special attention to human rights protection in this field more urgent. Other essentials for a better response by law enforcement include strengthened criminal justice agencies, better inter-agency co-ordination and co-operation, transparent strategic communications, and applying relevant international best practices.

As part of this project, the OSCE will help develop discussion-based recommendations to improve the legislative framework for combating serious crime, and provide training to law enforcement officers based on best practices in this sphere. Technical and expert support will be provided to help investigators improve their use of criminal analysis and other analytical tools. Other efforts include supporting the creation of Forensic and Training Centres for the State Bureau of Investigation. As a result of this project, Ukraine’s law enforcement agencies should increase their capacity to investigate serious crime in line with international best practices and human rights protection standards.

This effort is part of the OSCE Secretariat Extra-Budgetary Support Programme for Ukraine implemented with extra-budgetary contributions from the Organization's participating States; see full list of the Programme's donors.