OSCE Mission provides public relations training to Serbian judicial officials

Serbian judicial institutions are undergoing important structural changes following the approval of a new package of judicial laws in December 2008. The laws are designed to strengthen the independence of the judiciary and bring it closer to European standards.

These changes are being accompanied by a growing interest in judicial activities on the part of the Serbian media. Newspapers and broadcasters are running stories on the implementation of the reform package, for instance on the re-election of judges currently underway, but also on topics such as the prosecution of financial crime or the confiscation of goods from mafia affiliates.

Need for public relations skills

In view of this increased media interest, it is becoming imperative for members of the judiciary to be able to deal with journalists and the public effectively. But media spokespersons often lack the necessary skills and in some smaller courts, which do not have spokespersons, judges have to speak with the media themselves.

"This is not always easy," explains Judge Mirijana Vojinovic of the Jagodina District Court. "We want to be open and clear, answer the inquiries and also satisfy the curiosity of the public, but we are jurists and often too technical in our explanations."

The OSCE Mission to Serbia, which has been helping the Serbian Ministry of Justice to advance legal reform since the National Judicial Reform Strategy and the new Constitution were passed in 2006, is paying special attention to the relationship between media and the judiciary this year. In two pilot courses, it is providing training on "Effective Communication and Public Relations for the Judiciary".

Vesna Dabic, spokesperson of the Supreme Court of Serbia, who developed the curriculum for the course, emphasizes the importance of judicial outreach. "Spokespersons have a key role to play in explaining to citizens what national courts can do to protect their human and civil rights, helping them to understand the decisions that are being taken and thereby creating an environment more supportive of judicial activities and the rule of law in general," she says.

OSCE training courses

Judge Vojinovic is one of the judicial officials and public relations officers who took part in the first pilot training course, which was held at the OSCE premises in Belgrade in May. A second course will take place in Nis on 23 and 24 October. During the course, Dabic and other senior public relations officials, including Bruno Vekaric, spokesperson of the Serbian War Crimes Prosecutor's office, shared their knowledge and experiences with participants. These were also given the opportunity to practice and test their communication skills in mock interviews conducted by professional journalists.

"This OSCE training is very helpful for me because it is very functional. We are given practical examples and have the opportunity to train," stressed Sofija Colic, spokesperson of Novi Sad District Court, after taking her turn in front of the camera in the simulation of a TV interview by Dorde Vlajic, BBC World journalist.

Learning from the Slovenian experience

A special feature of the course was an account of the Slovenian experience of setting up public relations offices in judicial bodies and training judicial officers in public relations skills, presented by Gregor Strojin, spokesperson of the Supreme Court of Slovenia.

Dabic underlines the importance of this collaboration between Serbian and Slovenian institutions. "Serbia and Slovenia have similar problems, but Slovenia has preceded us in joining the European Union. That is why Slovenian expertise is so valuable to us as trainers as well as to the participants in this course," she says.

When the second training course concludes in October, all 25 of Serbia's judicial spokespersons will have taken part in the training. "We are very satisfied with the level of participation and interest in this course," states Ruth van Rhijn, Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia's Rule of Law and Human Rights Department. "The OSCE will continue working on outreach and public relations within the Serbian judiciary," she concludes.