Tripoli, 13 October 2013:
Libya’s recently-established Trial Monitoring Network has been given a boost with training to help it tackle the technical challenges of observing trials in Libya.
The Trial Monitoring Network was set up in June by 17 Libyan lawyers, following a series of meetings, field trips and training. Trial monitoring tries to ensure rights to fair trials and is an important tool in helping judicial reform.
Workshops focused on addressing some specific challenges the network had faced so far in the process of establishing its presence in Libya and gaining entry to courts.
Organised by the Tripoli Bar Association and the High Judicial Institute, in collaboration with NGO No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ), the workshop was led by international trial monitoring expert Pipina Katsaris, with input from local experts.
In a separate NPWJ workshop last week, judges and prosecutors from Tripoli, Misrata, Zawia and Khoms were trained on the country’s obligations with respect to International Humanitarian Law (IHL), war crimes and human rights violations.
Organised in close collaboration with the High Judicial Institute (HJI), the workshop aimed to boost knowledge and expertise within Libya’s own judicial and investigative institutions on international standards of law. It also considered how these could be practically applied in Libya. [/restrict]
