A. Fair Trial Development Project, OSCE Presence in Albania 124 Model OSCE staff programme of the OSCE Presence in Albania and funded through the OSCE unified budget. Inception This is a multi-year project that commenced in 2004. The project has involved three focused phases: 1) serious-crime cases at the Tirana District Court and Court for Serious Crimes (2003-2004); 2) first-instance proceedings conducted before the District Court and the Court for Serious Crimes with a focus on domestic violence, pre-trial detention, transparency, and procedural delays, as well as the right to an efficient defence and witnessintegrity issues (2005-2006); 3) criminal appellate proceedings (2007). Objectives • To assess domestic law and practice for compliance with international standards; • To increase compliance with domestic law and international fair-trial standards through recommendations; • To enhance transparency and public confidence in the justice system, as well as increase access to justice for all users; • To identify critical areas for intervention through training or other capacity-building activities; and • To measure progress in the administration of the justice system over time. Partners None Monitoring Staff Eight local OSCE staff perform monitoring from four regional field offices; an international project manager supervises monitoring and produces analytical reports. Reports “Interim Report (on the Prosecution of Serious Crimes)” (2005); “Analysis of the Criminal Justice System of Albania” (2006); “Analysis of Criminal Appellate Proceedings in Albania” (July 2007). Achievements • A separate waiting room for witnesses has now been designated at the firstinstance Court for Serious Crimes; • Due to monitoring, courts now regularly post public trial schedules; • Court secretaries have been trained to take proper minutes of hearings; • Increased access to court information, including provision of court decisions and documents; • Increased access to the investigative files of prosecutors; • Improved judicial practices regarding the review of the expiry of pre-trial detention periods as required by law; • Increased co-operation with national officials, including the minister of justice, who has requested that the project provide analysis and recommendations to address systemic delays of trials. Trial-Monitoring: A Reference Manual for Practitioners