Testifying via video-link during criminal proceedings has been made a reality in the justice system of the Republic of Serbia as of March 2021 with the introduction of modern videoconferencing equipment. The Higher Court in Novi Sad is one of the five Higher Courts where this equipment has been installed.

This type of testifying prevents victims and witnesses of crimes from having additional contact with defendants during court proceedings, thus avoiding additional trauma and secondary victimization of the victim, and making their testimony more complete and clearer.

Videoconferencing equipment at Higher Courts in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Kragujevac, Niš and Novi Pazar, as well as the equipment for special rooms necessary for this type of testifying has been secured thanks to the project titled Support for Victims and Witnesses of Crime in Serbia, implemented by the OSCE Mission to Serbia as the elected partner of the Ministry of Justice, and financed by the European Union.

How does this system function at the Higher Court in Novi Sad? Why is the videoconferencing equipment important and how does it contribute to the realization of victims' rights? How does the entire process work? Who can the victim speak to? What does this type of testifying look like? Who can pose questions, to whom and in what way? Who offers support to the victim during their testimony? What is the role of victim support services? What does all of this mean for the victims and for the more efficient operation of the justice system of the Republic of Serbia? – these are some of the questions that will be answered by:

• Miroslav Alimpić, President of the Higher Court in Novi Sad
• Jelena Ostojin, Officer for Support of Victims and Witnesses of Criminal Offenses at the High Court in Novi Sad
• Ivana Josifović, Judge at the Higher Court in Novi Sad
• Zoran Jakovljević, Deputy Public Prosecutor at the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Novi Sad

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