Newsroom
Report: A strategy for justice in Kosovo
PRISTINA 21 June 2001
PRISTINA, 21 June 2001 (OSCE) - The lack of a comprehensive and co-ordinated approach to the needs of Kosovo's justice system has hampered its effectiveness, according to an OSCE report. Initiatives to reform the criminal justice system must ensure that both judicial and law enforcement practice comply with basic human rights standards.
"A Strategy for Justice", prepared by the OSCE Mission in Kosovo Legal Systems Monitoring Section, lays out a number of comprehensive recommendations to address the challenges and problems facing Kosovo's criminal justice system.
The strategy highlights an overall approach in a number of critical areas which need to be developed if a fair and effective criminal justice system is to be established. This strategy includes:
The "Strategy for Justice" recommends action to deal with the systemic problems in Kosovo's judicial system underscored in the previous OSCE six-month report on the judicial system. The OSCE is working constructively with the Department of Judicial Affairs to develop Kosovo's justice system.
--
For more information please contact Claire Trevena, Spokesperson, OSCE Mission in Kosovo, tel.: (+381-38) 500-162 ext. 260, mobile: +377 (044) 500-150; e-mail: [email protected], website: www.osce.org/kosovo
"A Strategy for Justice", prepared by the OSCE Mission in Kosovo Legal Systems Monitoring Section, lays out a number of comprehensive recommendations to address the challenges and problems facing Kosovo's criminal justice system.
The strategy highlights an overall approach in a number of critical areas which need to be developed if a fair and effective criminal justice system is to be established. This strategy includes:
- A Criminal Justice Advisory Group (CJAG) to review and co-ordinate criminal justice policy and legislative development. Local authorities in the criminal justice area, in particular court presidents and public prosecutors, are to be consulted on such developments and initiatives;
- a formal procedure to review legislation and draft regulations concerning criminal justice to ensure that they conform with human rights standards;
- the establishment of a pre-trial review procedure for all district court cases, to ensure speedier trials, as well as the development of standard law enforcement techniques;
- a support system of subcommittees to advise on specific issues of criminal justice policy. Subcommittees would focus their efforts on specific issues - criminal procedure, legal training, victim and witness protection, sexual offenses and domestic violence, the treatment of the mentally ill, organized crime, and minorities;
- and, effective investigation of judicial misconduct.
The "Strategy for Justice" recommends action to deal with the systemic problems in Kosovo's judicial system underscored in the previous OSCE six-month report on the judicial system. The OSCE is working constructively with the Department of Judicial Affairs to develop Kosovo's justice system.
--
For more information please contact Claire Trevena, Spokesperson, OSCE Mission in Kosovo, tel.: (+381-38) 500-162 ext. 260, mobile: +377 (044) 500-150; e-mail: [email protected], website: www.osce.org/kosovo