OSCE Centre facilitates trial monitoring course in southern part of Kyrgyzstan

OSH, Kyrgyzstan, 28 April 2010 - An OSCE-supported training workshop on trial monitoring techniques, organized to strengthen the rule of law, started in Osh today.

Twenty-five defence lawyers, civil society representatives and journalists are taking part in the two-day workshop, organized by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek's field office in Osh and the local non-governmental organization Human Rights Advocacy Centre.

"This workshop will help to increase the transparency of the judicial process and trial monitoring, and by supporting the right to a public trial will contribute to public confidence in the administration of justice", said Dimitri Manjavidze, Human Dimension Officer at the OSCE Centre in Bishkek' field office in Osh.

Janishbek Toroev, Head of the Human Rights Advocacy Centre, said: "Our objective is to share best practices and examples of independent observation initiatives. This includes systematic gathering of reliable information about how trials are conducted. We aim to assist the state in developing a functional justice system consistent with the rule of law and international fair-trial standards."

The workshop was organized to support Kyrgyzstan's efforts to fulfil OSCE commitments related to the rule of law.