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Trainee judges in Azerbaijan learn about money laundering and terrorism financing adjudication

In support to the ongoing training programme for judge candidates of the Academy of Justice of Azerbaijan, the Council of Europe organised a two-day course for trainee judges to provide them with important insights on money laundering and other financial crime concepts, as well as good practices and challenges in the adjudication of related cases.

The potential future judges were introduced to key elements of judicial case management, mainly focusing on money laundering and terrorism financing (ML/TF) and asset recovery, as well as financial investigations, evidence building, judicial control over pre-trial investigation in ML/TF cases, international cooperation, and other aspects. Fictitious scenarios developed for the training helped them to better understand the important aspects of judicial proceedings related to financial crime, the process of assessment of direct and indirect evidence, main principles of reasoning in ML/TF cases, including the statement of the legal provisions applied and the requirements for proper decisions on confiscation orders. Thanks to the interventions from practicing judges from Belgium and the United Kingdom, the training course was also enriched with examples from real-life cases, which allowed to illustrate diverse thought patterns and approaches from different angles towards the adjudication of ML/TF cases.

This initiative is aimed to complement the government’s efforts to prevent and combat money laundering and other economic crimes and contribute to the recent judicial reforms in Azerbaijan on the enhancement of transparency in the activity of courts and the efficiency of legal proceedings. The direct collaboration with the national Academy of Justice in this endeavour also aims to achieve its sustainability. Additionally, a more advanced training course on the adjudication of money laundering and terrorism financing as well as asset recovery is being organised for experienced judges currently active in this field. 

This training event was organised within the framework of the project “Strengthening anti-money laundering and asset recovery in Azerbaijan”, funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe in their Partnership for Good Governance II.

Azerbaijan 26-27 October 2021
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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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