ANTI-TIP TRAINING FOR CROATIAN JUDGES AND PROSECUTORS

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000264 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR G/TIP, G, INL, DRL, IWI, EUR/PGI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL KCRM KWMN HR TRAFFICKING SUBJECT: ANTI-TIP TRAINING FOR CROATIAN JUDGES AND PROSECUTORS BOLSTERS ACTION PLAN ¶1. SUMMARY AND COMMENT: Embassy Zagreb and the Government of Croatia (GOC) are working together to train Croatian prosecutors and judges in preventing and prosecuting trafficking in persons (TIP) crimes. Two specialized seminars for trial and investigative judges, as well as for prosecutors, were held by U.S. legal experts brought to Croatia through the U.S. Speakers Program. The GOC, as an enthusiastic partner, co-sponsored the training program through the Government Office of Human Rights and the Judicial Academy of the Croatian Ministry of Justice. END SUMMARY AND COMMENT ¶2. Trial Attorney, Ms. Jessica Ginsburg from the Professional Development Office, Civil Rights Division at the U.S. Department of Justice, and Ms. Marianne L. Barrett, Assistant District Attorney in San Francisco, facilitated the specialized training of Croatian legal experts, judges and prosecutors. The training seminars were held at the Municipal Court in Solin and at the County Court of Zagreb, March 6-10, 2007. Both sessions, serving to bolster Croatia's TIP Action Plan, targeted a total of 39 participants. ¶3. The goal of these seminars was to further educate the Croatian Judiciary so that it will be better equipped to investigate, prosecute and make future convictions for TIP crimes. A secondary aim of this program was to share U.S. experience (both at the federal and local levels) with Croatian legal professionals. Open dialogue, conversation, and the sharing of best practices by judges and prosecutors with a victim centered approach were keys to this unique training opportunity. ¶4. Ms. Ginsburg and Ms. Barrett provided case studies and concrete information about the scope of the TIP problem in the United States; e.g. number of reported cases, investigations, prosecutions, and convictions which served to broaden the knowledge of Croatian prosecutors and judges. Witness and Victim's Protection/Assistance were emphasized as important and critical areas for prosecutors and judges to focus on in the pursuit of fair trials in Croatia. ¶5. The speakers and training sessions were very useful in promoting post's goals of educating and training Croatian prosecutors and judges. The program conveyed practical U.S. legal experience dealing with TIP cases and brought up, once again, the importance of successful TIP prosecutions and the social impact of well-handled cases. Speakers organized the sessions in a proactive manner, encouraging discussion and dialogue with program participants who were very participatory and showed an interest for this particular topic. Bradtke