Criminal Matters Network

OAS Criminal Matters Network www.oas.org/juridico/mla Overview Background: REMJA Meetings Working Group on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters and Extradition The Criminal Matters Network Purpose Background Composition New Developments

OAS Criminal Matters Network www.oas.org/juridico/mla Background What are the REMJA? (1997) Main political and technical hemispheric forum in areas related to the strengthening of and access to justice and international legal cooperation in areas related to mutual assistance in criminal matters, extradition, penitentiary and prison policies, cyber-crime, and trafficking in persons, among others. Who participates in REMJA? The Ministers of Justice or other Ministers or Attorneys General of the OAS Member states.

OAS Criminal Matters Network www.oas.org/juridico/mla Background REMJA Meetings 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, DC, 2008) REMJA VIII (Brasilia, 2010)

OAS Criminal Matters Network www.oas.org/juridico/mla Background Developments: Judicial system reform: JSCA Transnational organized crime Cyber-crime MLA and extradition Trafficking in persons Penitentiary and prison policies Forensic sciences Family and Child Law Developments on MLA and extradition: The Working Group The Criminal Matters Network

OAS Criminal Matters Network www.oas.org/juridico/mla The Working Group Composition: Central authorities and other government experts on international legal cooperation with direct responsibilities in the area of MLA in criminal matters and extradition in the OAS member states. Purpose: To serve as the principal hemispheric forum to enhance cooperation, facilitate the exchange of information and experiences and make the necessary recommendations to that effect.

“CRIMINAL MATTERS NETWORK" OAS Criminal Matters Network www.oas.org/juridico/mla The Working Group Developments and mandates: Meetings: I Meeting (Ottawa, Canada, 2003) II Meeting (Brasilia, Brazil, 2005) III Meeting (Bogota, Colombia, 2007) IV Meeting (San Salvador, El Salvador, 2009) Main development: “CRIMINAL MATTERS NETWORK"

Criminal Matters Network OAS Criminal Matters Network www.oas.org/juridico/mla Criminal Matters Network Purpose: Increase and improve the exchange of information among the OAS Member states on MLA and extradition. Background: REMJA III (San José, 2000) - Create a network. III Summit of the Americas (Québec, 2001) - Reiterate the creation of a network. REMJA IV (Port-of-Spain, 2002) – Development of a private site. REMJA V (OAS, 2004) – Adoption of the Criminal Matters Network. REMJA VI,VII and VIII – Consolidation of the Criminal Matters Network.

Criminal Matters Network OAS Criminal Matters Network www.oas.org/juridico/mla Criminal Matters Network Composition: Public Component: Free Virtual Library on legal information from the OAS Member States. Private Component: Pertinent information for people directly involved in legal cooperation. Secure Component: Information Technology tool to manage a secure and collaborative work space.

Criminal Matters Network OAS Criminal Matters Network www.oas.org/juridico/mla Criminal Matters Network Public Component: Introduction to the legal system of each Member state Description of the legal system and administration of justice Current versions of basic legal texts Cooperation procedures with and of the Member state Types of documents for the presentation of requests Applicable legislation, jurisprudence and documents Bilateral and multilateral treaties in force

OAS Criminal Matters Network www.oas.org/juridico/mla

Criminal Matters Network OAS Criminal Matters Network www.oas.org/juridico/mla Criminal Matters Network Private Component: Preparatory information for future meetings Directory Surveys Questionnaires and feedback Glossary

Criminal Matters Network OAS Criminal Matters Network www.oas.org/juridico/mla Criminal Matters Network Secure Electronic Communication System: Characteristics: To facilitate secure communications Confidentiality of the information: No central data base. No OAS Member state should have control of the application. GS/OAS does not have access to the information transmitted. Platform Microsoft Office Groove

Criminal Matters Network OAS Criminal Matters Network www.oas.org/juridico/mla Criminal Matters Network Secure Electronic Communication System: Characteristics (cont.) Facilitates secure communications among geographically disperse teams. Data encryption (192 bits) – Security is always on – it is not optional. Information is 100% confidential. There is no central data repository. Users decide with whom they share information – “Work Spaces”.

Criminal Matters Network OAS Criminal Matters Network www.oas.org/juridico/mla Criminal Matters Network Secure Electronic Communication System: Reach: 30 countries (+120 users) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Belize Bolivia Brazil Canada Chile Colombia Costa Rica Dominica Ecuador El Salvador United States Grenada Guatemala Guyana Haiti Honduras Jamaica Mexico Nicaragua Panama Paraguay Peru Dominican Republic St. Kitts and Nevis Suriname Trinidad and Tobago Uruguay Venezuela

OAS Criminal Matters Network www.oas.org/juridico/mla

Criminal Matters Network OAS Criminal Matters Network www.oas.org/juridico/mla Criminal Matters Network Secure Electronic Communication System: Training: “E-Learning” Microsoft Office Groove 2007 5 E-Learning Modules On-line Help Continuous update resource Face-to-face training courses

Criminal Matters Network OAS Criminal Matters Network www.oas.org/juridico/mla Criminal Matters Network New developments: MLA Request e-Form Detailed Contact Directory Dictionary of legal terms for MLA in Criminal Matters and Extradition (4 official languages) Secure Videoconference System

Thank you! Luiz Marcelo Azevedo Department of Legal Cooperation OAS Criminal Matters Network www.oas.org/juridico/mla Thank you! Luiz Marcelo Azevedo Department of Legal Cooperation Secretariat for Legal Affairs