1. THE MEETINGS OF MINISTERS OF JUSTICE OR OTHER MINISTERS OR ATTORNEYS GENERAL OF THE AMERICAS ("REMJA" PROCESS) Committee on Juridical and Political Affairs of the OAS Permanent Council Washington, D.C., February 24, 2012 R E M J A

2. 1.The REMJA process. –Origin, functions and composition. –Institutionalization. 2.Outcomes and specific developments in REMJA meetings 3.Report on the current status of the REMJA process pursuant to resolution AG/RES. 2657 (XLI-O/11). SCOPE OF THE PRESENTATION

3. The REMJA Process

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. Specific developments and outcomes of the REMJA meetings

8. Principal thematic areas that has produced specific cooperation processes and developments as a result of the recommendations of the REMJA meetings Outcomes and developments

9. 1.Support for Justice reform in the Region: –Creation of the Justice Studies Center of the Americas (JSCA) www.cejamericas.org Outcomes and developments

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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/MLA Outcomes and developments

14. 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

15. COMPONENTE PÚBLICO

17. COMPONENTE PRIVADO

18. SECURE ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

19. SECURE VIDEOCONFERENCE SYSTEM

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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.htm Outcomes and developments

23. 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

27. 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.htm Outcomes and developments

28. 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

29. Report on the current status of the REMJA meetings process pursuant to Resolution AG/RES. 2657 (XLI-O/11)

30. 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

31. 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

32. General Secretariat Secretariat for Legal Affairs Department of Legal Cooperation LegalCooperation@oas.org Thank you