Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
THE MEETINGS OF MINISTERS OF JUSTICE THE MEETINGS OF MINISTERS OF JUSTICE OR OTHER MINISTERS OR ATTORNEYS OR OTHER MINISTERS OR ATTORNEYS
GENERAL OF THE AMERICAS GENERAL OF THE AMERICAS ("REMJA" PROCESS)("REMJA" PROCESS)
Committee on Juridical and Political Affairs of the OAS Permanent CouncilCommittee on Juridical and Political Affairs of the OAS Permanent Council
Washington, D.C., February 24, 2012Washington, D.C., February 24, 2012
R E M J A
1. The REMJA process.– Origin, functions and composition.– Institutionalization.
2. Outcomes and specific developments in REMJA meetings3. Report on the current status of the REMJA process pursuant
to resolution AG/RES. 2657 (XLI-O/11).
SCOPE OF THE PRESENTATION
The REMJA ProcessThe REMJA Process
• Origin.• Functions:
– Principal hemispheric forum for sharing information and experiences, coordinating public policies, and consolidating and strengthening cooperation.
• Composition: – Ministers of Justice or other Ministers or Attorneys General
of the OAS member states.
The REMJA Process
• The REMJA meetings are held every 2 years.– REMJA I (Buenos Aires, 1997)– REMJA II (Lima, 1999)– REMJA III (San José, 2000)– REMJA IV (Port of Spain, 2002)– REMJA V (OAS Headquarters, 2004)– REMJA VI (Santo Domingo, 2006)– REMJA VII (Washington, D.C., 2008)– REMJA VIII (Brasilia, 2010)– REMJA IX (Upcoming, El Salvador, 2012)
The REMJA Process
• Institutionalization of the process:– Agreement on its institutionalization (REMJA VI).– Process of negotiations (2006-2008).– Adoption of the "Document of Washington" (REMJA VII):
• Content and scope:– Composition; organization and functions; working
groups and technical meetings; relations with OAS organs and other cooperation processes; Technical and Administrative Secretariat.
The REMJA Process
Specific developments and Specific developments and outcomes of the REMJA outcomes of the REMJA
meetingsmeetings
Principal thematic areas that has produced specific cooperation processes and
developments as a result of the recommendations of the REMJA meetings
Outcomes and developments
1. Support for Justice reform in the Region:– Creation of the Justice Studies Center of the Americas (JSCA)
www.cejamericas.orgwww.cejamericas.org
Outcomes and developments
2. Process of cooperation in Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters and Extradition:– The REMJA Working Group
• Composition: Central and international cooperation authorities and other governmental experts with responsibilities in mutual assistance in criminal matters and extradition.
• Objective: Principal hemispheric forum for strengthening cooperation, facilitating the exchange of information and experiences, and formulating the necessary recommendations to that end.
Outcomes and developments
2. Process of cooperation in Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters and Extradition:– Meetings of the REMJA Working Group.
• I Meeting (Ottawa, 2003)• II Meeting (Brasilia, 2005)• III Meeting (Bogotá, 2007)• IV Meeting (San Salvador, 2009)• V Meeting (Upcoming, Asunción, May 2012)
Outcomes and developments
2. Process of cooperation in Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters and Extradition:
– A few specific outcomes:• Diagnostic assessment of problems, formulation of a
recommendation, and follow up of its implementation.• Model Law on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters.• Guides to best practices.• Model form for requesting assistance.• Legal terminology glossary and dictionary.• Cooperation with other international bodies.
Outcomes and developments
3. The Hemispheric Information Exchange Network for Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters and Extradition:– Set of electronic tools to facilitate cooperation and make
more efficient the sharing of information among central authorities and experts in mutual assistance in criminal matters and extradition.
www.oas.org/juridico/MLAwww.oas.org/juridico/MLA
Outcomes and developments
3. The Hemispheric Information Exchange Network for Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters and Extradition:
– Composition :• Public Component: Free Virtual Library obtaining legal
information from OAS member states. • Private Component: Useful information for persons
directly involved in legal cooperation• Secure Components: I.T. tools for managing a
cooperative and secure working environment, including a videoconferencing system.
Outcomes and developments
COMPONENTE PÚBLICOCOMPONENTE PÚBLICO
COMPONENTE PÚBLICOCOMPONENTE PÚBLICO
COMPONENTE PRIVADOCOMPONENTE PRIVADO
SECURE ELECTRONIC SECURE ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION SYSTEMCOMMUNICATION SYSTEM
SECURE SECURE VIDEOCONFERENCEVIDEOCONFERENCE
SYSTEMSYSTEM
4. Legal cooperation against Cybercrime:– Working Group for REMJA meetings.
• Composition: Government experts with responsibilities in this field and for international cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of cybercrime.
• Objective: Principal hemispheric forum for strengthening cooperation, facilitating the exchange of information and experiences, and for formulating the necessary recommendations to that end.
Outcomes and developments
4. Legal cooperation against Cybercrime:• The REMJA Working Group on Cybercrime has met 7 times
since 2003.• A few concrete outcomes:
- Diagnostic assessments of the States, formulation of a recommendation, and follow-up on its implementation.
- 17 training workshops:- More than 600 prosecutors and investigators trained.- Topics: drafting of legislation; handling of electronic
evidence; investigation techniques.
Outcomes and developments
5. Inter-American Cooperation Portal on Cybercrime:– Set of electronic tools to facilitate cooperation and
information-sharing among authorities responsible for international legal cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of cybercrime, and to render that process more efficient.
www.oas.org/juridico/english/cyber.htmwww.oas.org/juridico/english/cyber.htm
Outcomes and developments
5. Inter-American Cooperation Portal on Cybercrime:
– Contents:• National legislation.• Directories of National Authorities.• National Links.• Participation – G8 24/7 High Tech Crime Network.• Training Workshops (presentations, guidelines,
programs, etc.).• Working Group developments.
Outcomes and developments
6. Hemispheric Cooperation in Penitentiary and Prison Policies– The REMJA Working Group.
• Meeting process: July 2012.7. Hemispheric Cooperation in Forensic Research:
– The REMJA Working Group.• Start of the Meetings Process 2009.
8. Hemispheric Cooperation in Family and Child Law.— Cooperation Network (2010):
www.oas.org/dil/family_law.htmwww.oas.org/dil/family_law.htm
Outcomes and developments
9. Hemispheric Cooperation against Transnational Organized Crime– REMJA initiative to draft a Hemispheric Plan of Action on the
subject.– Adoption of the Plan of Action and establishment of a
Technical Group.– Follow-up on its developments.
10. Hemispheric Cooperation against Trafficking in Persons:– REMJA initiative to hold hemispheric technical meetings on
the subject.
Outcomes and developments
Report on the current status of the Report on the current status of the REMJA meetings process pursuant to REMJA meetings process pursuant to Resolution AG/RES. 2657 (XLI-O/11)Resolution AG/RES. 2657 (XLI-O/11)
• Recent developments pursuant to resolution AG/RES. 2657 (XLI-O/11):– Seventh Meeting of the Working Group on Cybercrime
(February 6 and 7, 2012, OAS headquarters).– Regional Workshop offering Training in Investigation
Techniques (Guatemala, March 27-29, 2012):– Countries invited: Costa Rica, the Dominican
Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.
Status report on the REMJA meetings
• Recent developments pursuant to resolution AG/RES. 2657 (XLI-O/11):– Fifth Meeting of the Working Group on Mutual Assistance in
Criminal Matters and Extradition (May 29-31, 2012, Asunción).
– Third Meeting of the Working group on Penitentiary and Prison Policies (July 18 and 19, 2012, OAS headquarters).
– REMJA-IX (second half 2012, San Salvador).
Status report on the REMJA meetings
General SecretariatSecretariat for Legal Affairs
Department of Legal Cooperation
Thank you
