Kosovo's witness protection system - in need of review
A better witness protection scheme would aid the police in the fight against crime in Kosovo (Lubomir Kotek/OSCE) Photo details
PRISTINA, 20 May, 2003 - The OSCE's latest review of Kosovo's criminal justice system has pinpointed the crucial importance of developing a more secure and effective witness protection system to help combat crime in the province, in particular organised crime.
The Review, the fifth in a series, which has covered the development of the judicial system in Kosovo, addresses the problem of the intimidation of persons who may serve as witnesses in criminal trials. It examines the effectiveness of the current witness protection system in the light of the incidents of witness intimidation monitored by OSCE since March last year.
The Review considers the protection of witnesses to be one of the most pressing issues facing the criminal justice system in Kosovo today. It also points out that it will become increasingly important in coming months, as the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMiK) Department of Justice focuses on tackling organised crime.
While welcoming the recent efforts by the authorities to improve the witness protection system, the Review finds that there are a number of areas that could be further developed and urges the authorities to give this priority.
In addition, the Review addresses a number of other areas that have been highlighted as concerns in previous reports, namely, the independence of the judiciary, wrongful detentions, the level of legal representation for defendants and issues relating to trafficking.
The OSCE - mandated with monitoring human rights in Kosovo - applies a human rights perspective to its monitoring of the judicial system. This monitoring has been used to assist UNMIK create a justice system which functions more effectively and is striving towards international standards.
The Review, the fifth in a series, which has covered the development of the judicial system in Kosovo, addresses the problem of the intimidation of persons who may serve as witnesses in criminal trials. It examines the effectiveness of the current witness protection system in the light of the incidents of witness intimidation monitored by OSCE since March last year.
The Review considers the protection of witnesses to be one of the most pressing issues facing the criminal justice system in Kosovo today. It also points out that it will become increasingly important in coming months, as the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMiK) Department of Justice focuses on tackling organised crime.
While welcoming the recent efforts by the authorities to improve the witness protection system, the Review finds that there are a number of areas that could be further developed and urges the authorities to give this priority.
In addition, the Review addresses a number of other areas that have been highlighted as concerns in previous reports, namely, the independence of the judiciary, wrongful detentions, the level of legal representation for defendants and issues relating to trafficking.
The OSCE - mandated with monitoring human rights in Kosovo - applies a human rights perspective to its monitoring of the judicial system. This monitoring has been used to assist UNMIK create a justice system which functions more effectively and is striving towards international standards.