Назад Judges and prosecutors in Armenia discussed various dimensions of criminal proceedings in absentia and confiscation of property of illicit origin

Judges and prosecutors in Armenia discussed various dimensions of criminal proceedings in absentia and confiscation of property of illicit origin

A series of discussions addressing crucial legal aspects related to criminal proceedings in absentia and the confiscation of property of illicit origin were held under the joint European Union and Council of Europe project “Support to the Justice Reform in Armenia”. In total, 90 specialists from the Court of Cassation, the Prosecutor General's Office, and the Constitutional Court participated in these events.

Judges and staff members of the Court of Cassation, as well as prosecutors and staff members of the Prosecutor’s Office, delved into the details of criminal proceedings in absentia. The discussions were framed within the standards set by the Council of Europe, drawing from the case law of the European Court of Human Rights and best practices of member states.

Simultaneously, justices and staff members of the Constitutional Court explored the complex subject of the confiscation of property of illicit origin. The discussions focused on understanding and applying international standards, including a detailed analysis of the Council of Europe Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure, and Confiscation of the Proceeds of Crime (CETS 198). The professional dialogue also highlighted the alignment with the European Convention on Human Rights to ensure that confiscation measures respect fundamental human rights principles.

Renowned Barrister Mr Jeremy McBride, an expert in human rights safeguards, led the training sessions, providing insights into the nuanced application of legal principles, particularly in the context of human rights safeguards in criminal proceedings.

These events mark a critical step towards reinforcing the Armenian legal system. The expertise shared by Mr McBride and the active participation of legal professionals reflect a commitment to upholding justice, rule of law and human rights in Armenia.

 Read the web news in Armenian: Դատավորներն ու դատախազները քննարկել են մեղադրյալի բացակայությամբ իրականացվող վարույթի և ապօրինի ծագում ունեցող գույքի բռնագանձմանն առնչվող տարբեր հարցեր

The events are part of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme “Partnership for Good Governance”, co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, and implemented by the Council of Europe, in the framework of the project “Support to the Justice Reform in Armenia”.

Yerevan, Armenia 7-9 December 2023
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Strasbourg, France Strasbourg, 1-2 July 2024
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Addressing hate speech and hate crime: regional gathering of the network of Equality Bodies from the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership Region

A two-day workshop on addressing hate speech and hate crime took place at the premises of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, involving Equality bodies from the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership regions.  The event supported by the EU and Council of Europe, gathered 50 representatives from both regions who discussed and exchanged on the best practices, measures and common challenges when addressing hate speech and hate crime. Through monitoring and reporting, policy advocacy, raising awareness and supporting victims equality bodies play a fundamental role in protecting human rights and ensuring that all individuals are treated equally.

In her opening remarks, Angela Longo, Head of Anti-discrimination Co-operation Unit, Council of Europe, underlined the significant progress in engaging with Equality Bodies through this network, regularly exchanging best practices and addressing the challenges of hatred and intolerance in societies. She highlighted that this new chapter of discussion delves into the grey area between hate speech and hate crime, addressing issues of incitement and biases,

Representatives from Equality Bodies had the opportunity to discuss and enhance their knowledge on the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers Recommendation to member States on combating hate crime, adopted on 7th May 2024, as well as gain a clearer understanding of EU standards in the field of hate crime. Moreover, participants engaged in exchanges with peers from the Spanish Observatory on Racism and Xenophobia (OBERAXE), who shared insights on addressing hate speech in the public discourse. The National Office Against Racial Discrimination (UNAR) in Italy provided practical examples for developing counter-narratives and raising awareness initiatives.

They also explored opportunities to advocate for legislative reform, foster multisectoral co-operation, enhance data collection, and overall improve national mechanisms to counter hate crimes.

This seminar was organised within the action “Promoting equality and combating racism and intolerance in the Western Balkans” and the project “Promoting equality and non-discrimination: towards more resilient and inclusive societies” – co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, and implemented by the Council of Europe  under the joint Programmes “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye” and “Partnership for Good Governance”.

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