Doc. 12841

23 January 2012

Witness protection as an indispensable tool in the fight against organised crime and terrorism in Europe

Motion for a resolution

presented by Mr Gardetto and others

1.       Witness testimonies are fundamental to the functioning of any criminal trial in a state upholding the rule of law. By their testimony, witnesses make an essential contribution to the proper functioning of justice, to the fight against impunity and to maintaining the confidence of the people in the authorities.

2.        During the past years, the Parliamentary Assembly has examined the question of witness protection in the Balkans. Resolution 1784 (2011) on the Protection of witnesses as a cornerstone for justice and reconciliation in the Balkans stresses that witnesses who stand up for truth and justice are owed reliable and durable protection. Without the protection and support that witnesses need to be able to testify, justice and reconciliation in the Balkans cannot be achieved.

3.        Reliable and durable witness protection for those who stand up for truth and justice is necessary not only for war crimes and not only in the Balkans. Such a protection is of vital importance in the fight against organised crime and terrorism - problems which may occur, in principle, throughout Europe.

4.        The Assembly therefore resolves to study carefully the question of the protection of witnesses as an indispensable tool in the fight against organised crime and terrorism in Europe.

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed ^1:

GARDETTO Jean-Charles, Monaco, EPP/CD

CILEVIČS Boriss, Latvia, SOC

CLAPPISON James, United Kingdom, EDG

DİŞLİ Şaban, Turkey, EPP/CD

FARINA Renato, Italy, EPP/CD

FERIĆ-VAC Mirjana, Croatia, SOC

FRUNDA György, Romania, EPP/CD

GAUDI NAGY Tamás, Hungary, NR

GRAF Martin, Austria, NR

HEALD Oliver, United Kingdom, EDG

HUSEYNOV Rafael, Azerbaijan, ALDE

IVANJI Željko, Serbia, EPP/CD

MARTY Dick, Switzerland, ALDE

NESSA Pasquale, Italy, EPP/CD

PANŢIRU Tudor, Romania, SOC

PAPADIMITRIOU Elsa, Greece, EPP/CD

PARFENOV Valery, Russian Federation, GDE

de POURBAIX-LUNDIN Marietta, Sweden, EPP/CD

REPS Mailis, Estonia, ALDE

TOMLINSON John E., United Kingdom, SOC

UMAKHANOV Ilyas, Russian Federation, EDG

VARVITSIOTIS Miltiadis, Greece, EPP/CD

VITALI Luigi, Italy, EPP/CD

VOLONTÈ Luca, Italy, EPP/CD

VUČKOVIĆ Nataša, Serbia, SOC

WOHLWEND Renate, Liechtenstein, EPP/CD

¹        EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      SOC: Socialist Group

      ALDE: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group