Priority Issues for the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia

The Open Society Justice Initiative today released a summary of urgent needs at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, the court that will try those most responsible for Cambodia's killing fields.

In a public memo, the Justice Initiative urged the Group of Interested States—a coalition of nations assisting the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia—to act swiftly in addressing emerging problems.

"These needs must be addressed quickly if the [Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia] is to conduct fair trials and deliver justice for the Cambodian people," said James A. Goldston, executive director of the Justice Initiative.

The Justice Initiative's memo calls on the Group of Interested States to:

• Address budgetary inadequacies and monitor budgetary policy by convening key Chambers officials to identify funding gaps, and then filling those gaps, and monitoring the court's budget, securing additional funds, and preventing financial constraints from gutting critical activities.
• Ensure judges are convened immediately to adopt clear internal regulations by funding a judicial plenary session, ideally in November 2006.
• Facilitate judicial leadership and cooperation by monitoring the development of internal regulations to ensure they facilitate judicial leadership, and providing funds immediately for an international and Cambodian judge to start work in Phnom Penh to facilitate effective judicial leadership.
• Develop independent investigative resources and enhance capacity by funding extra investigators and advocating for the creation of a separate investigative unit within the court.
• Provide financial resources to ensure adequacy of outreach.
• Create, adequately train and staff a Victim and Witness Protection and Support Unit.
• Fund defense counsel training.
• Monitor hiring procedures for Cambodian national staff.
• Address additional translation, interpretation and transcription needs and build staff capacity.