Improvements needed for Albanian justice system to be based on rule of law, says OSCE Presence report

TIRANA, 3 November 2006 - The OSCE Presence in Albania presented today the results of a trial monitoring report that focuses on the country's judicial system.

The paper examines the extent to which the procedural and human rights of persons detained on remand are respected by Albanian courts and prosecutors. It also focuses on the effectiveness of the defence, the corruption in the judiciary, ways domestic violence cases are handled, as well as the access to information.

"Although the Albanian justice system has seen significant progress, there is still need for further improvement in order to create a stable and transparent justice system based on the rule of law," said Alex Finnen, Deputy Head of the OSCE Presence. "Legal rules are frequently not respected or are abused in order to achieve 'desired' but not necessary lawful results."

"In recognition of the fundamental nature of the right to a fair trial, OSCE participating States have committed themselves to permit national and international observers to monitor trials. It is to Albania's credit that its judiciary has participated fully and wholeheartedly in the process," added Alex Finnen.

The report was presented as part of a series of papers under the Fair Trial Development Project. The first such analysis, the Fair Trial Development Project Interim Report, was published in February 2005 and covered the period between October 2003 and July 2004.

The OSCE Presence is ready to assist the Albanian authorities in their efforts to improve the country's justice system.

The full text of the report in Albanian and English is available on this page under "Documents".