UNODC conducts training on internal audits and management review for forensic experts in Turkmenistan

The training was aimed at developing forensic experts’ knowledge and skills in organizing, conducting and documenting internal audits and management review meetings in accordance with the procedures of the Management System developed with the UNODC support.

Emphasizing the importance of forensic science and availability of qualified forensic services for effective and fair criminal justice systems, Mr. Koen Marquering, UNODC Criminal Justice Programme Coordinator in Central Asia, noted that forensic science is the key to an effective and fair criminal justice system as it provides objective and timely information at multiple stages of an investigation.

“Effective use of forensics makes a significant contribution to improving and enhancing the effectiveness of the criminal justice system as a whole, while its ineffectiveness can ultimately lead to miscarriages of justice, false sentences and imprisonment. Thus, laboratories operating in accordance with international standards, as well as qualified forensic experts, are critical to the state's criminal justice system, allowing the investigation process to be based on physical evidence rather than on confessions or testimonies”, emphasised Mr. Maruering.

Further capacity development of forensic experts in Turkmenistan is now planned on end of November – beginning of December 2021 with a focus on strengthening the metrics' reading and interpretation skills and introduce the use of control charts in lab examinations to Turkmen forensic experts to further support the preparation for international accreditation under ISO/IEC 17025:2017.

Training was conducted under UNODC’s initiative on “Strengthening forensic services in Turkmenistan” implemented with the financial support from the US State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).