Lawyers and law students took part in a 10-day summer school in Osh, Kyrgyzstan, in August 2004. Co-operation with resident field missions of the OSCE Anti-Torture Work is vital, as those on the ground in the relevant coun- In many countries in the OSCE region, torture remains a standard technique of investigation, since getting a conviction often relies on the use of a confession as primary evidence. Thus, the ODIHR's anti-torture work in 2004 continued to focus on the pre-trial stage of the judicial process. The ODIHR takes the view that torture prevention should be mainstreamed into all work in the criminal-justice sector (see box). To further this approach, the ODIHR has conducted a number of projects and activities that have addressed the institutionalized practices that encourage the use of torture, such as reliance on confessions as primary evidence and evaluation of police work by numbers of cases “solved” rather than through other indicators tries are able to react quickly to developments in governmental policies or to cases that require OSCE involvement. 1. Criminal-justice reform In transitional states of the former Soviet Union, criminal-justice systems have been, and continue to be, in need of expert advice and assistance to develop and meet relevant international standards and OSCE commitments. Work in the area of criminal-justice reform takes place at different levels that range from the working level of lawyers, prosecutors, judges, and law- Penal-Policy Reform enforcement personnel to the political level, involving The ODIHR’s assistance in the area of penal reform supports momentum for change in participating States and furthers the reform process. The ODIHR’s two primary goals are to reduce prison populations and to improve human-rights conditions in prisons. A number of steps can be taken to lower prison populations, such as by decriminalizing certain offences and by increasing the use of alternative sentencing, so that individuals convicted of certain crimes can be sentenced to noncustodial measures, including fines, probation, and community service. Reducing prison populations is also an important factor in achieving the second goal, namely, improving human-rights conditions in prisons. policy changes in dealing with crime (including decriminalization of certain offences and increasing alternative sentencing). Therefore, the ODIHR provides ongoing assistance at the working level and at the political level to encourage comprehensive reform in criminaljustice systems. This assistance includes training, exchange of experience through conferences and seminars, as well as direct advice on legislative reform. Specific issues of focus for the Criminal-Justice Reform Programme include lending assistance to combat torture, encouraging and supporting penal-policy reform, and promoting greater use of alternative sentencing. 22