Criteria for evaluating public prosecutors presented in Belgrade

BELGRADE, 27 February 2008 - Legal experts, judges, prosecutors and members of the newly established High Prosecutorial Council discussed an evaluation model that defines the criteria for how best to assess the work of public prosecutors at a news conference today that was supported by the OSCE Mission to Serbia.

The publication "Criteria for the Evaluation and Promotion of the Work of Prosecutors" was presented at the news conference. It was drafted by national experts and supported by the OSCE Mission and the Prosecutors' Association to provide guiding principles for appraising the performance of public prosecutors.

"This publication contains transparent, objective and measurable criteria for the evaluation of the performance of prosecutors' work," said Ruth Van Rhijn, Acting Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia.

"The criteria are in line with international standards and principles regarding the independence of prosecutors."

Slobodan Homen, State Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, added: "The criteria will be used to decide on promotions for public prosecutors, allowing the National Assembly of Serbia to elect candidates on the basis of merit instead of political affiliation."