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Report | Doc. 14997 | 15 October 2019

Interpol reform and extradition proceedings: building trust by fighting abuse

Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights

Rapporteur : Mr Aleksander POCIEJ, Poland, EPP/CD

Origin - Reference to committee: Doc. 14315, Reference 4306 of 30 June 2017. 2019 - November Standing Committee

Summary

International co-operation in the field of criminal law is of fundamental importance. When criminals take advantage of reduced border controls in Europe to escape justice in their own countries and transfer criminal assets abroad, States must react by co-operating with each other efficiently to uphold the rule of law.

A reasonable balance must be struck between the legitimate interest in preventing impunity for serious crimes, which themselves violate human rights, and the rights of the person targeted by an extradition request, who must not be exposed to a serious risk of flagrant denial of justice, cruel and inhuman punishment and/or discriminatory treatment on political, racial, ethnic or religious grounds.

International co-operation in the field of criminal law requires a high degree of mutual trust, based on common standards and practices. Trust is destroyed when international co-operation mechanisms are misused for political or corrupt purposes.

The Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights stresses Interpol’s vital role in the fight against impunity. It welcomes the fact that Interpol has implemented many recommendations made by the Assembly in its 2017 report aimed at strengthening the Interpol system and fighting the abuse of Red Notices and Diffusions. However, further work needs to be done to improve the transparency of Interpol’s work and to strengthen accountability for States who frequently abuse Interpol’s instruments.

A. Draft resolution 
			(1) 
			Draft resolution adopted
unanimously by the committee on 27 June 2019.

(open)

B. Explanatory report by Mr Aleksander Pociej, rapporteur

(open)