UNODC - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Published purpose

This project is one component of a broader program to strengthen the forensic capabilities of the Palestinian justice system. In particular, it seeks to enhance the capacity of the Palestinian Authority to manage, utilize, and sustain forensic science and forensic medicine services through improved institutional structures and governance. The project supports the Ministries of Justice and Interior, as well as the Palestinian Civil Police, in establishing appropriate organizational and governance structures. This includes providing leadership in the development and implementation of strategic plans, quality assurance systems, clearly defined roles and responsibilities, and measures to ensure the transparency of forensic results. The project provides training and mentoring in basic laboratory procedures, drug analysis, physical evidence examination, counterfeit and altered document examination, and firearms and toolmark identification. In the area of forensic medicine, the project aims to increase the number of fully trained specialist forensic physicians while establishing an education and training system within local universities to sustain forensic medicine services in the future. A key component of the project is the expansion of clinical forensic medicine services to support cases involving sexual assault, child abuse, and domestic violence.