G. Trial Monitoring Project in Kyrgyzstan, ODIHR and the OSCE Centre in Bishkek 136 Model ODIHR project model organized in co-operation with the OSCE Centre in Bishkek and financed by the European Commission, the Netherlands, Norway, and the United States. Inception Monitoring commenced in February 2005 after a six-month planning phase. Objectives • To facilitate compilation of reliable information on practices of criminal justice to support ongoing reforms in Kyrgyzstan and identify areas of concern to be addressed; • To train members of civil society in national and international fair-trial standards and trial-monitoring methodology within the framework of criminal proceedings; and • To obtain independent and impartial reports on criminal trials from the perspective of compliance with national and international fair-trial standards. Reports “Results of Trial Monitoring in the Kyrgyz Republic 2005-2006” (2007) Partners No formal partners Monitoring Staff Twenty-five local project monitors included recent law-school graduates, young practicing lawyers, and members of NGOs; programme supervision was provided by two programme co-ordinators who were local lawyers. Achievements • A formal letter of support was obtained from the Supreme Court that greatly increased access to courthouses and trials; • In December 2004, the trial monitors received their first training on trial-monitoring. Thirty-seven people participated in the first training session held in Bishkek. In July 2005, a second training session for Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan trial monitors was held in Almaty; • Trial-monitoring was conducted between February 2005 and April 2006; • Publication of a final report in 2007 providing specific findings on areas impacting the right to a fair trial, statistics, and a list of recommendations to local authorities. Trial-Monitoring: A Reference Manual for Practitioners