Jun12017

Judicial response to terrorist attacks

EU
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1 June 2017

The images of the heinous terrorist attacks against the innocent people of Paris, Brussels, Berlin, Stockholm, Nice, Manchester and many more European cities were still fresh in the minds of the national correspondents for terrorism matters, who, yesterday and today, gathered at Eurojust for their annual meeting. The two-day meeting was chaired by Michèle Coninsx, President of Eurojust and Chair of the Counter-Terrorism Team.

The unprecedented threat to European citizens posed by international terrorism demands that Member States fight terrorism in a coordinated fashion to secure that those responsible for such atrocities are brought to justice in the quickest and most effective way. National judicial authorities increasingly rely on Eurojust’s support to share the information needed to dismantle terrorist networks and coordinate their counter-terrorism investigations and prosecutions.

The meeting was devoted to exploring possibilities to enhance judicial responses and cooperation in the aftermath of terrorist attacks and to exchanging lessons learned from investigations and prosecutions, with a focus on the international dimension of the investigations and best practice in dealing with victims immediately after terrorist attacks. The national correspondents for terrorism matters also discussed mechanisms for the de-radicalisation of terrorist suspects and possible challenges in prosecution and conviction of foreign terrorist fighters for terrorist offences and/or war crimes. The possible added value of the specialised judicial counter-terrorism bridge-maker between Eurojust and the European Counter Terrorism Centre (ECTC) at Europol was also discussed during the meeting, to facilitate an early judicial follow-up of the work of Europol in countering terrorism.

In attendance, in addition to the national correspondents and Eurojust National Members, were counter-terrorism judicial experts from Norway, Switzerland and the USA, the EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator, the Head of the ECTC and a representative from Frontex.

A special session was dedicated to challenges in collecting battlefield information that could be used as evidence for terrorism and/or war crimes proceedings, bringing to the discussion table experts at international level representing specialised organisations and networks dealing with core international crimes.

Ms Coninsx said: ‘The international security situation has become more complex and unpredictable, but the fight against terrorism and all other heinous crimes must continue. The presence of national correspondents for terrorism matters is of absolute added value in this fight. Eurojust stands ready to assist the Member States and its cooperation partners, but good will is not enough. We need a constant exchange of ideas and best practice, as well as the human and financial resources necessary to respond rapidly and effectively to a constantly changing terrorist threat landscape.’

Jun12017

Judicial response to terrorist attacks

EU
image_pdfimage_print

1 June 2017

The images of the heinous terrorist attacks against the innocent people of Paris, Brussels, Berlin, Stockholm, Nice, Manchester and many more European cities were still fresh in the minds of the national correspondents for terrorism matters, who, yesterday and today, gathered at Eurojust for their annual meeting. The two-day meeting was chaired by Michèle Coninsx, President of Eurojust and Chair of the Counter-Terrorism Team.

The unprecedented threat to European citizens posed by international terrorism demands that Member States fight terrorism in a coordinated fashion to secure that those responsible for such atrocities are brought to justice in the quickest and most effective way. National judicial authorities increasingly rely on Eurojust’s support to share the information needed to dismantle terrorist networks and coordinate their counter-terrorism investigations and prosecutions.

The meeting was devoted to exploring possibilities to enhance judicial responses and cooperation in the aftermath of terrorist attacks and to exchanging lessons learned from investigations and prosecutions, with a focus on the international dimension of the investigations and best practice in dealing with victims immediately after terrorist attacks. The national correspondents for terrorism matters also discussed mechanisms for the de-radicalisation of terrorist suspects and possible challenges in prosecution and conviction of foreign terrorist fighters for terrorist offences and/or war crimes. The possible added value of the specialised judicial counter-terrorism bridge-maker between Eurojust and the European Counter Terrorism Centre (ECTC) at Europol was also discussed during the meeting, to facilitate an early judicial follow-up of the work of Europol in countering terrorism.

In attendance, in addition to the national correspondents and Eurojust National Members, were counter-terrorism judicial experts from Norway, Switzerland and the USA, the EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator, the Head of the ECTC and a representative from Frontex.

A special session was dedicated to challenges in collecting battlefield information that could be used as evidence for terrorism and/or war crimes proceedings, bringing to the discussion table experts at international level representing specialised organisations and networks dealing with core international crimes.

Ms Coninsx said: ‘The international security situation has become more complex and unpredictable, but the fight against terrorism and all other heinous crimes must continue. The presence of national correspondents for terrorism matters is of absolute added value in this fight. Eurojust stands ready to assist the Member States and its cooperation partners, but good will is not enough. We need a constant exchange of ideas and best practice, as well as the human and financial resources necessary to respond rapidly and effectively to a constantly changing terrorist threat landscape.’

Jun12017

The Economist backs the Liberal Democrats

Liberal Democrats
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The Economist has endorsed the Liberal Democrats one week out from polling day. It says they “consider a vote for the Lib Dems as a down-payment for the future.”

The influential magazine argues that “the leaders of both main parties have turned away from a decades-old vision of an open, liberal country” leaving only Tim Farron and the Liberal Democrats representing the large majority of British voters who want to live in an open, tolerant and united Britain.

The Liberal Democrats, like the experts at The Economist, believe that Britain should remain open: to business, investment and people. This used to be common-sense but both the Conservatives and Labour have abandoned the centre ground. Theresa May is pursuing an extreme Brexit that will damage our economy and our relationship with our neighbours whilst, Corbyn has veered off to what the Economist dubs as “the loony left”. This leaves us, standing up for those who want a better future for their children.

Spelling out the reasons to vote Liberal Democrat on 8 June, The Economist says it boils down to the fact that:

• We want membership of the single market and free movement.
• We are more honest than the Tories about the need to raise taxes for public services;
• And more sensible than Labour, spreading the burden rather than leaning only on high-earners
• We are on the right side of other issues: for devolution of power from London, reform of the voting system and the House of Lords, and regulation of markets for drugs and sex

We are the “radical centre, essential for a thriving, prosperous Britain” as The Economist puts it. Vote Lib Dem on 8 June.

Jun12017

UNICEF urges Governments to close data gaps on vulnerable children in residential care

United Nations
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1 June 2017 – At least 2.7 million children live in residential care worldwide and face increased risk of violence, abuse and long-term damage to their cognitive, social and emotional development, a United Nations study says, warning that &#8220this is just tip of the iceberg.&#8221

According to the study Child Abuse & Neglect, published by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), official records in many countries only capture a small fraction of the actual number of children living in residential care and children in privately owned centres are often not counted.

&#8220It is critical that governments keep more accurate and comprehensive listings of all existing residential care facilities, as well as regularly undertake thorough counts of children living in these facilities in order to help strengthen official records,&#8221 said Claudia Cappa, Statistics Specialist at UNICEF and co-author of the study. &#8220That way we will be able to measure the breadth of the problem and work with governments to respond effectively.&#8221

In residential care, such as institutions or orphanages, children who are already vulnerable due to family separation are at increased risk of violence, abuse and long-term damage to their cognitive, social and emotional development, said Cornelius Williams, Associate Director of Child Protection at UNICEF.

Research shows some of the key risk factors that result in children being placed in residential care include family breakdown, health issues, poor or unequal provision of social services, disability and poverty.

Governments are urged to reduce the number of children living in residential care by preventing family separation where possible, and by seeking homes for children in family-based care such as foster homes. Stronger investment in community-based family support programmes is also needed, UNICEF said.

UNICEF’s new estimate is based on data from 140 countries. Central and Eastern Europe was found to have the highest rate worldwide, with 666 children per 100,000 living in residential care, over 5 times the global average of 120 children.

Industrialized countries have the second-highest rate with 192 children, followed by East Asia and the Pacific region at 153.