OSCE Mission to Skopje supports the judiciary to fight organized crime

SKOPJE, 10 April 2009 - A workshop supported by the OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje to strengthen the role of judiciary in prosecuting organized crime cases started in Bitola today.

The meeting was initiated by the All for Fair Trials Coalition, in co-operation with the Academy for training of judges and prosecutors. It is first in a series of workshops introducing recommendations from the Coalition based on four years of monitoring anti-trafficking and organized crime cases.

"The recommendations provide excellent guidelines for further action and engagement on behalf of the judiciary in improving their role in the fight against organized crime in the country," said Lisa Tilney, the Head of the OSCE Mission's Rule of Law Department.

The participants will also discuss matters related to the latest draft Law on Criminal Procedure, including application of special investigative measures, victim compensation and confiscation of assets, sentencing and victim/witness protection.