The Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine (hereinafter referred to as KFI) is in international relations with scientific institutions, educational institutions of foreign countries, international and non-governmental organizations in accordance with Art. 24 of the Law of Ukraine “On Forensic Examination”, holding joint conferences, symposia, seminars and exchange specialists within international projects and programs and outside the relevant programs.
In 2017, the KFI became a member of the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI). ENFSI is one of the world’s most important networks of forensic organizations. This network includes all leading European expert institutions. Today, the European network of forensic institutions includes 72 forensic laboratories from 39 European countries. The task of ENFSI is to promote cooperation in the field of forensic science in Europe, to disseminate knowledge and experience and to conclude agreements between organizations. ENFSI consists of 17 working groups on types of examinations and two Standing Committees, which are engaged in the development and harmonization of international cooperation in its field. Ongoing contacts of the KFI experts within the work of ENFSI working groups allow receiving up-to-date information on new achievements in the field of expertise, to share experience with colleagues and to bring the best achievements in the practice of the KFI work.
Since 2019, the KFI has become the first institution among the expert research institutions of forensic examination of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, accepting a part in the CEPOL exchange program – the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL – European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training). CEPOL allows becoming participants in the exchange program for forensic experts and the KFI specialists, who have become active participants in the exchange and training program on the Leed CEPOL educational platform. CEPOL promotes cooperation and knowledge exchange among EU law enforcement officials (including third countries) and now forensic institutions, on issues arising from EU security priorities, in particular with regard to the EU Anti-Corruption Policy organized crime. In countries that cooperate with CEPOL, there are CEPOL National Units (National Contact Points).
A priority in the international activities of the KFI is also the involvement of the TAIEX (Technical Assistance Information Exchange) tool. It is a type of external assistance provided by the European Commission for the exchange of information in order to develop the institutional capacity needed to adopt national legislation to the acquis communautaire. Within the framework of the TAIEX tool, the KFI experts carry out study visits that provide an opportunity to study the experience of a member country, organize and conduct seminars and working meetings with relevant partners of the EU member states in the field of forensic science.
The experts of the KFI take part in the projects “EU Action against Drugs and Organized Crime, Enhanced Evidence-Based and Intelligence-Led Cooperation and Capacity Building to address Drug-Related Organized Crime along the Heroin Route”. Since 2017, the specialists of the Institute have been involved in the active work of the Working Group of the EU-ACT Project. As part of this Project, the KFI specialists conduct joint scientific and practical events, seminars, webinars and study visits to EU countries to improve interaction within the EU-ACT Project and study best practices.
Starting from 2020, the experts of the Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise have become participants in the programs of the International Quality Assurance Programme (IQAP) International Collaborative Exercises (ICE) UNODC. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Drugs is a special United Nations office that fighting against expanded drugs and tie malignancies with them. The ICE program is aimed at helping drug-testing laboratories worldwide assess their own performance and take corrective actions, when appropriate.
In addition to the aforementioned programs, the employees of the KFI constantly exchange experience with specialists from different countries of the world, including through working meetings. In 2019, representatives of the KFI were invited to the INTERPOL, and in 2018, they participated (the only ones among all expert institutions in Ukraine) in the conference of the European Academy of Forensic Sciences (EAFS), held in Lyon, France. A conference of this scale brings together all experts from all over the world and it takes place every third year.
Within the framework of cooperation with other forensic institutions of Ukraine and the world, the KFI signed numerous cooperation agreements.
The active work of the Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine in the field of international integration and partnership relations within the reached agreements allows implementing international standards in the work of the institution, contributing to an efficient solution of complex theoretical and practical problems. It is promoted the exchange of information resources; ensure high quality examinations as well.
