Christiana Tamambang Fomenky

• Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
• Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
• Worked well in a team setting, providing support and guidance.

Retired

Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer.

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC- ROSEN) Dakar, Senegal.

ü

Fight against Organized Crime, Crime Prevention, Criminal Justice Reform

16/10/2017 → Present (Fixed term Position)

As Regional Legal Advisor and Head of the justice section, I

· Managed and implemented a component of the Sahel project in Niger to strengthen the capacity of the judicial anti-terrorism unit (pole judiciaire anti-terroriste) and specialised anti-terrorism chambers to effectively investigate, prosecute and adjudicate terrorism cases while respecting Human Rights and the Rule of Law. In that context prepare and assess draft programmes and project ideas and documents for technical assistance in the area of crime prevention and criminal justice reform; identify problems and issues to be addressed and propose corrective actions; liaise with relevant parties; identify and track follow-up actions.

· I prepared terms of reference for UNODC project staff and consultants; recruit, train and supervise local project support staff as necessary; identify consultancy needs in the context of the Niger component of the Sahel Programme, develop terms of reference for proposed consultancies and participate in the identification, selection and recruitment process.

· I Assisted in policy development in relation to activities in the region, including the review and analysis of issues and trends, preparation of evaluations or other research activities and studies.

· Provided expert advice to and coordinate with officials of the judicial anti-terrorism unit, establish relevant project work plans, and oversee, monitor and coordinate project implementation.

Oversee the implementation of all project activities in Niger, including assistance in organizing national workshops and training courses.

· Provided technical expertise and guidance to national and regional counterparts, field offices and project staff on the implementation of technical assistance projects, programmes and activities.

· Built strong collaborative partnerships with national governments in the countries covered by the project

· Undertook fund-raising activities.

· Participated in needs assessment and other technical missions, where necessary, to evaluate and elaborate technical assistance projects, programmes and activities.

· Prepared various written outputs, e.g., draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications.

· Monitored and control the component's budget and revise it as necessary; validate the supply of equipment and monitor project expenditures; plan and prepare schedule and delivery timetables for training and equipment requirements.

Prepared and oversee the preparation of all necessary project progress reports and project implementation delivery rate reports.

ü As required, provided substantive guidance, input and support to all other UNODC projects in the region; as determined by the UNODC Regional Representative.

ü Performed other duties within the work area, as required.

· I participated in the development, implementation and evaluation of project XAMZ17, “Strengthening criminal justice systems in the Sahel in order to effectively combat drug trafficking, illicit trafficking, organized crime, terrorism and corruption in the region",

· I prepared and assessed draft programmes and project ideas and documents for technical assistance in the area of crime prevention and criminal justice reform; identify problems and issues to be addressed and propose corrective actions; liaise with relevant parties; identify and track follow-up actions.

· I assisted in policy development, including the review and analysis of issues and trends, preparation of evaluations or other research activities and studies.

· I provided technical expertise and guidance to national and regional counterparts, field offices and project staff on the implementation of technical assistance projects, programmes and activities.

· I was able to build strong collaborative partnerships with national governments in the countries covered by the project.

· I Undertook fund-raising activities.

· Participated in needs assessment and other technical missions, where necessary, to evaluate and elaborate technical assistance projects, programmes and activities.

· Prepared various written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications.

· Coordinated activities related to budget and funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and prepare related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget, etc.).

· Provided inputs to the substantive and programmatic reports of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, ECOSOC, General Assembly and other legislative and technical bodies as well as their subsidiary bodies, in areas of crime prevention and criminal justice reform.

· Prepared and drafted a variety of written outputs, such as background papers, correspondence with governments, working papers, mission reports, analyses, briefings, presentations, policy proposals and documents, including parts of regular and ad hoc reports, studies, summary reports, manuals, guides and toolkits.

· Performed other duties within the work area as required.

· Prepared appeal readiness report before judgment delivery, analyzed judgments, identified and evaluated the significance of potential grounds of appeal, then provide legally competent and strategic advice to the Prosecutor on the advisability, or not, of appealing from Trial Chamber judgments and sentences in the various cases to which I was assigned.

· If an appeal was advised, I identified the grounds of appeal, and if an appeal was not advised, to identify the reasons.

· Prepared written submissions in relation to appeals and pre-appeal motions, on behalf of the Prosecutor, in a timely and persuasive manner in all cases to which I am assigned.

· Ensured that the Prosecutor's Rule 68 obligations are discharged, with respect to the entirety of the appeal stage and afterwards, in relation to all cases assigned.

· Contributed to Appeals Legal and Advisory Division (ALAD)'s legal advisory and education functions

· Provided advice to trial teams on a range of matters and assisted them in handling interlocutory appeals from Trial Chambers.

· As a member of the sexual Violence Committee, participated in preparing the manual on the prosecution of conflict related sexual violence crimes and on the treatment of victims and witnesses of such crimes based on lessons learned.

· Participated in organizing the workshop on the prosecution of conflict related sexual violence crimes.

• Achieved favorable case outcomes by conducting thorough investigations, witness interviews, and evidence analysis.
• Developed persuasive legal strategies for trial proceedings, resulting in successful case resolutions.
• Negotiated advantageous settlements with opposing counsel, reducing litigation costs and expediting resolution time.
• Managed complex caseloads and prioritized tasks effectively to meet deadlines while maintaining attention to detail.

· Assisted in the preparation of cases for the prosecution (including testimonial, documentary, demonstrative and other manner of evidence, and law) for presentation on behalf of the Prosecutor, at indictment confirmation hearings, trials and incidental motions.

· On behalf of the Prosecutor, appeared together with trial attorneys before the various chambers of the tribunal at indictment confirmation hearings, trials and incidental motions.

· Undertook research and analysis of law and facts and prepare written factums, submissions and briefs for use at trials and incidental motions.

· Attended in-house indictment review sessions preparatory to presentation at indictment confirmation hearings.

· Advised investigations on supplementary investigations to make cases trial ready, as well as brief witnesses for trial.

· Handled a wide range of multidiscipline and legal complex matters on appeal involving substantive and procedural issues of administrative law, international and domestic criminal, civil, commercial, labour and customary laws.

· Review trial records, evidence, procedure, judgments, rulings and other decisions and orders of trial courts and after deliberations with other judges on a panel, deliver judgments confirming or setting aside same.

· Examined grounds of appeal in light of written memoranda of submissions and either allow or set aside same.

· Entertained urgent applications and interlocutory motions on various issues of appeal and deliver rulings.

· Undertook extensive legal research and analysis of legislation and jurisprudence both from national and international laws.

· Supervised trial courts to ensure proper administration and growth of the law.

· Monitored developments in the law.

· Carried out Administrative functions of the Court

· Conducted trials in criminal cases of simple offences and misdemeanours where the sentence did not exceed ten years imprisonment.

· Conducted hearings in administrative, civil, commercial and labour matters where the award did not exceed five million francs CFA.

· Conducted trials of felonies committed by minors

· Entertained interlocutory motions on trial related issues and delivered rulings.

· Undertook legal research and analysis of laws and gathered relevant information before delivering judgments in all matters heard.

Supervised two Presiding Magistrates, a Registrar-in-Chief and fourteen non-professional staff of the court

· Directed administered and controlled the Legal Department charged with the enforcement of all laws and regulations in force and the execution of judgments.

· Had primary carriage of prosecution caseload for preparation and presentation at trials.

· Acted as team leader of trial teams consisting of five Deputy State Prosecutors and several investigating judicial police officers and support staff.

· Received and handled petitions and complaints from members of the public

· Commissioned and followed up investigations and supervised compilation of case files by investigating officers.

· Received, studied and treated case files, wrote legal opinions, briefs, reports and preferred charges and drafted indictments for prosecution.

· Prepared prosecution’s case (including testimonial, documentary and all manner of evidence) and prepared witnesses for trial.

· Presented cases for the prosecution at trials in the High Courts and Courts of First Instance, including the examination and cross examination of witnesses and tendering of documents.

· Provided Legal advice on substantive and procedural questions relating to investigations and prosecutions.

· Directed and supervised the treatment of case files and prosecutions by my deputy state counsels.

· Delegated responsibility and supervised five Deputy State Counsels and sixteen non-professional staff attached to the Legal Department.

· Directed and supervised several police and gendarme officers charged with investigations.

• Enhanced court efficiency by streamlining case management processes and implementing organizational improvements.
• Presided over various types of cases, ensuring fair and impartial administration of justice.
• Issued warrants for search, arrest, or detention based on probable cause findings.
• Applied legal knowledge to analyze complex issues, resulting in well-reasoned decisions and judgments.
• Had jurisdiction to hear and determine offences where the sentence did not exceed ten years imprisonment.
• Juvenile judge in all offences including capital felonies in which children and young persons are charged.
• Civil claims attached to criminal complaints as well as independent civil, commercial and labour claims where the award did not exceed five million francs CFA.
• Entertained interlocutory motions on trial related issues and delivered rulings.
• Performed such other duties as delegated to me by the President of the court.

• Enhanced team efficiency by streamlining communication processes and implementing new procedures.
• Managed high-profile cases, ensuring timely resolution and maintaining client satisfaction.
• Increased productivity by developing comprehensive project timelines and monitoring progress closely.
• Collaborated with multiple departments to develop effective strategies for case management and resource allocation.

· Carried out investigations and prosecutions.

· Received and treated complaints and petitions from members of the public.

· Received, studied and treated case files, wrote legal opinions, briefs, reports and preferred charges and drafted indictments for prosecution.

· Prepared prosecution’s case (including testimonial, documentary and all manner of evidence) and prepared witnesses for trial.

· Presented cases for the prosecution at trials in the High Courts and Courts of First Instance, including the examination and cross examination of witnesses and tendering of documents.

· Assisted in the execution of Court Judgments.

· Performed such other duties as assigned to me by the Senior State Prosecutor.