OSCE Mission helps train Armenian judges in new Criminal Code

YEREVAN, 25 August 2003 - Judges from all levels of the Armenian court system have been given training, jointly organized by the OSCE Office in Yerevan, to improve their knowledge and understanding of the country's new Criminal Code, which came into force on 1 August.

Participants in a three-day course, held in Tsakhkadzor from 22 to 24 August, included about 40 criminal court judges, as well as representatives of the Justice Ministry, the Union of Judges, the Council of Europe and the OSCE itself.

The aim of the training programme and related discussions, held under the auspices of an OSCE-supported project, is to increase knowledge and understanding about the reform of Armenia's criminal legislation and assist the judges in interpreting and applying its provisions in light of the comments provided by drafters of the Code and other relevant experts.

Copies of the new Criminal Code guidelines for implementation (prepared by the Governmental Working Group which drafted the Code) and a document comparing the old and new Codes, were distributed to all participants.

Participants mainly discussed issues related to reviewing sentences on the basis of the new Code, notion and types of crime, and assignment of punishment Additionally, the training helps the judges to understand the role of international and European standards in applying domestic criminal legislation norms.

Issues raised during discussion at the training course also help to identify areas of possible improvement to the new Criminal Code, based on the feedback from judges concerning further amendments.

The course organizers, the OSCE Office in Yerevan, the Armenian Ministry of Justice and the Union of Judges, intend to continue this active consultation process with the view to improving the application of the Criminal Code. Financial support for the course is provided by the OSCE/Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.