Australia: Iraqi Special Tribunal (IST) Courts Administration Training in Australia - Rehabilitation Assistance for Iraq, AusAID/RAFI, 2005

Australia is currently contributing to the humanitarian and reconstruction needs in Iraq, focusing on niche areas where Australia has a particular expertise to offer and in sectors that complement Government of Iraq and other donor initiatives. The assistance is provided under a program titled ‘Rehabilitation Assistance Facility: Iraq’ (RAFI) and is funded through AusAID. RAFI is managed by Coffey International Development.

Under RAFI, Australia is seeking to strengthen Iraq’s criminal justice sector through targeted assistance to the Iraqi Special Tribunal (IST). Senior members of the IST Court Administration staff were identified to participate in a study tour to Australia.

World Wide was contracted to develop an in-Australia training program that incorporated the technical and personal requirements of the senior IST staff. The study tour program was for 18 days and included visits to Courts, Commissions and agencies with processes and systems that were of relevance to the IST and the trials. The program included specialist inputs from legal professionals, archivists, court registrars, judges’ associates, media specialists and court management software developers, each with experience in war crime prosecutions and in supporting court processes and operations.