International Country Cooperation and Coordination in Implementing the Palermo Protocol Ruby Marks Chief Director: Gender Department of International Relations and Cooperation

2 Forms of international co-operation Extradition Mutual legal assistance Transfer of proceedings Co-operation for purposes of confiscation to deprive traffickers or criminal assets Co-operation between law enforcement authorities including exchanging information and co-operation in conducting inquiries Co-operation in using special investigative techniques

Channels of communication of international co-operation includes Competent National Authorities Diplomatic staff Law Enforcement officials More structured forms of cooperation in law enforcement include: Posting of Liaison Officers to facilitate co-operation with the host government’s law enforcement officers in criminal investigations Bilateral and Multi-=lateral Agreements and arrangements on law enforcement co-operation and on the sharing of law enforcement information Co-operation with such structures as INTERPOL and SARPCO (South African Regional Chiefs of Police Co-operation Organisation. 3

Issues for Concern: formal and informal law enforcement co-operation Diversity of legal systems Diversity of law enforcement structures Absence of channels of communication for the exchange of basic information and criminal intelligence Diversity in approaches and priorities Lack of trust 4

5. 10 YEAR SADC STRATEGIC PLAN OF ACTION ON COMBATING TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS, ESPECIALLY WOMEN AND CHILDREN (2009 – 2019) Inter-State Co-operation – Conditions must be put in place to ensure that all countries co-operate fully and effectively between themselves to prevent and address the causes and effects of trafficking in persons as well as deter and punish the offenders within and across countries.

6 Coordination and Regional Cooperation Activity 1:Facilitate the establishment and strengthening of channels of communication between Member States law enforcement, immigration; border control agencies and other relevant sectors for sharing of intelligence, information and trends on trafficking in persons Output 1:Regional Information and Experiences Sharing Forum on Trafficking in persons established and convening at least twice a year. Output 2:Memoranda of understanding and bilateral and multilateral agreements between MS on issues related to combating trafficking in persons signed. Output 3: Intelligence on Trafficking in persons integrated into the Interpol and SARPCCO systems.

7 South Africa’s Commitment to SADC Inter-Country Cooperation and Coordination (i)provide policy consensus at regional level consistent with global commitments; (ii)take ownership and sustain initiatives; (iii)implement regional policy and strategic priorities – direct service delivery; (iv)monitor and evaluate with support from UN and civil society; (v)coordinate at national and sub national levels; (vi)mobilize resources locally and internationally and account; (vii)generate and manage information with technical support from UN, civil society and private sector; (viii)build local implementation capacity; (ix)facilitate sharing lessons and experiences at regional and national levels; (x)mobilize community action

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