Within the period of 5 – 6 December 2024 in Serbia, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), through its Firearms Trafficking Section, in cooperation with the Judicial Academy (JA) and the Criminalistic Police University (CPU), conducted a training “Firearms in the Courtroom.” This training is part of Project Justitia and aims to enhance the capacity of judges and prosecutors in investigating and adjudicating firearms-related cases.
Participants had the opportunity to acquire in-depth knowledge on the technical aspects of firearms, their essential part and components, ammunition, explosive devices, and explosives. The training also addressed key contentious legal issues in firearms-related cases, as well as the challenges involved in the forensic analysis of firearms and the judicial reconstruction of crimes committed with firearms.
The training was supported by Criminalistic Police University’s firearms instructors and implemented using knowledge products developed by UNODC, including the Training Manual for Handling Firearms-Related Cases and Firearms Case Law, Vol. I & II, with strategic support provided by the Judicial Academy.
The collaboration between UNODC, the Judicial Academy, and the Criminalistic Police University in implementing the "Firearms in the Courtroom" training underscores the value of a multidisciplinary approach to capacity building in firearms-related cases. This partnership leverages the technical expertise of CPU firearms instructors, the judicial training frameworks provided by the JA, and UNODC's specialized knowledge products, such as the Training Manual for Handling Firearms-Related Cases and Firearms Case Law Volumes I and II. This collaborative effort not only strengthens the ability of judges and prosecutors to address firearms-related challenges but also ensures alignment with international standards and practices, fostering greater national buy-in.
This project is funded by Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, France, the UK, and Norway through the Western Balkans SALW Control Roadmap Trust Fund and supported by the European Union.
