1. Criminal Matters Network

2. OAS Criminal Matters Network
Overview
Background:
REMJA Meetings
Working Group on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters and Extradition
The Criminal Matters Network
Purpose
Background
Composition
New Developments

3. OAS Criminal Matters Network
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.

4. OAS Criminal Matters Network
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)

5. OAS Criminal Matters Network
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

6. OAS Criminal Matters Network
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.

7. “CRIMINAL MATTERS NETWORK"
OAS Criminal Matters Network
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"

8. Criminal Matters Network
OAS Criminal Matters Network
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.

9. Criminal Matters Network
OAS Criminal Matters Network
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.

10. Criminal Matters Network
OAS Criminal Matters Network
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

11. OAS Criminal Matters Network

12. Criminal Matters Network
OAS Criminal Matters Network
Criminal Matters Network
Private Component:
Preparatory information for future meetings
Directory
Surveys
Questionnaires and feedback
Glossary

13. Criminal Matters Network
OAS Criminal Matters Network
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

14. Criminal Matters Network
OAS Criminal Matters Network
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”.

15. Criminal Matters Network
OAS Criminal Matters Network
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

16. OAS Criminal Matters Network

17. Criminal Matters Network
OAS Criminal Matters Network
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

18. Criminal Matters Network
OAS Criminal Matters Network
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

19. Thank you! Luiz Marcelo Azevedo Department of Legal Cooperation
OAS Criminal Matters Network
Thank you!
Luiz Marcelo Azevedo
Department of Legal Cooperation
Secretariat for Legal Affairs