OSCE Mission to Moldova brings together lawyers from both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River to introduce them to the uses of forensic expertise
The OSCE Mission to Moldova on 13 May 2016 organized the first in a year-long series of meetings of the Human Rights Club for lawyers from both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River. The event, held in Tiraspol, brought together 27 lawyers to discuss the work of forensic experts and the benefits of co-operating with such experts in order to better represent their clients’ needs.
The event provided a platform for discussion for general legal practitioners who represent clients on a variety of legal issues, including matters that may require forensics-based analysis. By enhancing their understanding of how forensic science works, the event enabled the lawyers to better assert their clients’ rights.
“As a lawyer working in the field of women’s rights, which includes combating domestic violence, I cannot overstate the importance of drawing on the work of forensic experts,” said Alexei Balan, a lawyer at the ‘Resonance’ Centre for Support and Development of Civic Initiatives. “Criminal proceedings can often only be initiated against the aggressor based on a forensic expert’s report.”
This event is part of a year-long project designed to facilitate the exchange of experiences between lawyers from both banks of the river and support their development. In 2016, the Mission will organize three more meetings of the Human Rights Club in Chisinau and Tiraspol.