Further Support to Forensic Medicine Services

The Institute of Forensic Medicine (IFM) acts as an agency under the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), with a functional autonomy. The Institute, through its staff of medico-legal experts, performs medico-legal examinations such as: medico-legal autopsy; clinical medico-legal examination; examination of biological samples and other medico-legal examinations foreseen by the applicable legislation; maintaining the records of all medico-legal results based on the order issued by the Court or State Prosecutor; searching, finding and exhumation and also determination of the fate, identification and handover of human remains of missing persons related to the war in Kosovo; professional, educational and scientific research pursuant to the law; Maintaining contact with families of missing persons and cooperation with local and international institutions and organizations involved in the process of clarifying the fate of the missing persons. Within the justice system, the Institute provides forensic expertise at the order of the Prosecutor or at the order of a court. The overall objective of the project is to support Kosovo authorities to strengthen the rule of law by further supporting general law enforcement and transparent judicial system, with a focus on forensic medicine services. The specific objectives of the projects are the following: The services at the Institute for Forensic Medicine including the Missing Persons Operation are strengthened and modernised by enhancing its technical and administrative capacity The inter-institutional cooperation, the capacity and the efficiency in the field of forensic medicine and service to the overall justice system is improved Components: The activities are grouped in 3 components: Component 1: Organizational Component. Component 2: Capacity Building Component. Component 3: Cooperation Component. The outputs: Component 1: Organizational Component The Institute operates within a well-regulated legislative environment thus having all legal prerequisites into providing forensic services in a transparent, professional and efficient manner. The procedures on how the Institute cooperates, reports to and exchanges information with other institutions, such as prosecution, judiciary, Kosovo Forensic Agency, Kosovo Police, Government Commission on Missing Persons as well as medical community are put in place and implemented. The toxicology laboratory within the Institute for Forensic Medicine is accredited. Component 2: Capacity Building Component The Institute is able to provide independent forensic services in a transparent, professional and efficient manner. The capacities of the Institute's staff, but also of other institutions such as prosecution, judiciary, Kosovo Forensic Agency, Kosovo Police, etc., in the area of archaeology, anthropology, toxicology, forensic bio-chemistry, biology and missing persons are built and/or enhanced Component 3: Cooperation Component Cooperation with one or several ECLM forensic institutes is set-up and formalized Continuous update of best practices and standards is maintained Key stakeholders of the project are the Institute for Forensic Medicine of Kosovo, the Ministry of Justice and the Kosovo Police.