ODIHR trains lawyers and civil society representatives from South Caucasus on trial-monitoring techniques

The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) shared its trial-monitoring methodology with lawyers and civil society representatives from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia at a training workshop in Vilnius on 25 and 26 November 2013, organized in co-operation with the Belarusian Human Rights House.

Participants were trained on the principles and objectives of ODIHR’s trial-monitoring methodology, as outlined in Trial Monitoring: A Reference Manual for Practitioners.

The training session was specifically designed to equip lawyers and civil society representatives with the tools and techniques to establish and conduct professional trial-monitoring programmes.

“This training is part of ODIHR’s work in strengthening the skills and capacity of lawyers and civil society to assess the extent to which judicial practice meets OSCE commitments on fair trial rights and the rule of law,” said Maria Alcidi, ODIHR Rule of Law Officer.

“Collecting accurate and reliable data through effective trial-monitoring operations enables us to advocate for positive change in our country’s justice system, which is in everyone’s interest,” said Nino Tsagareushvili, a participant and Project Director of the Human Rights Centre in Georgia. 

The training workshop was organized as part of ODIHR’s work in strengthening the rule of law in the South Caucasus.