Multilateral Treaties

[Treaty] [text in Spanish]

A-55: INTER-AMERICAN CONVENTION ON MUTUAL ASSISTANCE IN CRIMINAL MATTERS

ADOPTED AT: Nassau, Commonwealth of Bahamas

DATE: 05/23/1992

MARC OF ADOPTION: Twenty Second regular session of the OAS General Assembly

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 04/14/96, In accordance with Article 37 of the Convention

DEPOSITARY: OAS General Secretariat (original instrument and instruments of ratification)

TEXT: Treaty Series, OAS, No. 75

GENERAL INFORMATION OF THE TREATY: A-55
COUNTRY SIGNATURE RATIFICATION/ACCESSION DEPOSIT INFORMATION*
Antigua & Barbuda - 07/14/2004 01/05/2005 RA -
Argentina 06/06/2004 10/09/2006 12/12/2006 AD Yes
Bahamas 04/26/2001 04/22/09 04/30/09 RA Yes
Barbados - - - -
Belize - - - -
Bolivia - 11/28/2006 12/14/2006 AD Yes
Brazil 01/07/1994 10/10/2007 11/12/2007 RA Yes
Canada 06/03/1996 05/29/1996 06/03/1996 RA -
Chile 04/24/1997 06/05/2003 04/28/2004 RA Yes
Colombia - 12/04/2002 01/13/2003 RA Yes
Costa Rica 03/08/2002 01/03/2012 03/14/2012 RA Yes
Dominica - 09/14/2004 10/20/2004 AD -
Czech Republic - 07/12/2019 10/17/2019 AD Yes
Dominican Republic - - - -
Ecuador 10/15/1992 12/26/2001 03/08/2002 RA Yes
El Salvador 07/02/2002 04/21/2004 07/16/2004 RA Yes
Grenada 03/10/1993 11/29/2001 01/16/2002 RA -
Guatemala 12/19/2002 01/24/2003 05/05/2003 RA Yes
Guyana 02/28/2006 04/07/2008 06/09/2008 RA Yes
Haiti - - - -
Honduras - 09/25/2006 11/10/2006 AD Yes
Jamaica - 07/14/2004 08/12/2004 AD Yes
Kazakhstan - 10/27/2015 11/06/2015 AD Yes
Mexico 06/05/2001 01/07/2003 02/11/2003 RA Yes
Nicaragua 03/04/1993 09/24/2002 11/25/2002 RA Yes
Panama 11/13/2000 10/28/2001 01/29/2002 RA Yes
Paraguay 06/02/1998 07/30/2004 10/22/2004 RA Yes
Peru 10/28/1994 04/03/1995 04/26/1995 RA Yes
St. Kitts & Nevis - - - -
St. Lucia - - - -
St. Vincent & Grenadines - - - -
Suriname 05/16/1995 02/28/2008 03/31/2008 RA Yes
Trinidad & Tobago - 06/01/2004 06/08/2004 RA -
Ukraine - 11/05/2020 02/26/2021 AD Yes
United States 01/10/1995 01/05/2001 05/25/2001 RA Yes
Uruguay 01/22/1993 01/20/2012 03/14/2012 RA -
Venezuela 08/27/1992 03/11/1995 03/14/1996 RA Yes

*DECLARATIONS/RESERVATIONS/DENUNCIATIONS/WITHDRAWLS

A-55: INTER-AMERICAN CONVENTION ON MUTUAL ASSISTANCE IN CRIMINAL MATTERS

 

Ecuador:  (Reservation made at the time of signature) 

 The Government of Ecuador expressed its reservation on  Article 8, as follows:

 "The provisions of this Convention shall not be applicable to crimes that are subject to military and police jurisdictions, or to crimes committed by persons enjoying special immunity unless, in the latter case, the requirements and formalities observed by the requested State have been complied with by the requesting State."

 The reservation was repeated at the moment of the deposit of the instrument of ratification.

Designation of Central Authority: (07/24/2003)

 Fiscal General de la Nación, actualmente a cargo de la doctora Mariana Yépez.   

Provided information in accordance with article 3.  Appointed the Office of the Attorney General of Ecuador as the Central Authority (July 24, 2003)

On July 13, 2012, Ecuador  informed on the designation of the "Doctor Galo Chiriboga Zambrano - Fiscal General del Estado" as the Central Authority for the purpose of the Inter-American Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters.

On December 6, 2018, Ecuador informed the depository on the designation of the Fiscalía General del Estado as the central authority for the Inter -American Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters.

On September 3, 2019, Ecuador informed the depository on the designation of Diana Salazar Mendez, Fiscal General del Estado as the central authority for the Inter -American Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters. It was also reported that the point of contact in the field of mutual assistance and extradition would be Patricia Alejandra Carrasco, Director of International Affairs.

 

Venezuela: (Provided information in accordance with Article 3).

Appointed the Ministry of Justice of Venezuela as the Central Authority competent to carry out the functions entrusted to it in the Convention.

On April 12, 2004, the Government of Venezuela appointed the Ministerio Público as the new central authority, pursuant to article 3 of the Inter-American Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters.

 

Nicaragua: (Declaration made at the time of signature) 

Nicaragua, by means of this act, signs the Inter-American Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters, and in accordance with Article 35, expressly declares that the Article 27 of the Convention shall apply--until such time as its internal legislation is modified--in harmony with these provisions.  

Designation of Central Authority: Procuraduría General de la República (January 24, 2003)

United States:

Designation of Central Authority: (05/25/2001)

On May 25, 2001, the United States informed the depositary of the designation of the central authority for the Inter-American Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters.

Office of International Affairs of the Criminal Division of the United States Department of Justice
(1301 New York Ave., 8th floor, Washington, D.C.,
20005 Phone 202-514-0000, Fax 202-514-0080).

 

Mexico: 

Signature was made Ad Referendum. (06/05/2001)

Designation of Central Authority:   25 de marzo de 2003

Procuradoría General de la República
Lic. Agustín De Pavia Iturralde
Director General de Asuntos Legales Internacionales
Procuradoría General de la República
Av. Reforma 211, 2 piso, Col. Cuauhtemoc
México, D.F., 06500
Tel. (52-55) 5346-2037 y 5346-2039
Fax. (52-55) 5346-2354 y 5346-2355

e-mail:
[email protected]

On September 7, 2006, Mexico informed the change of address of the previously appointed central authority, in accordance with article 3 of the Inter-American Convention for Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters.

Dirección General de Cooperación Internacional
Procuradoría General de la República
Av. Reforma 2
13, 4 piso, Col. Cuauhtémoc
México, D.F., 06500
Tel. (52-55) 5346-20
72 y 5346-2071
Fax. (52-55) 5346-
2375
e-mail:
[email protected]

 

Panama: Reservation (01/29/2002) 

"With regard to the first paragraph of Article 5, the Republic of Panama declares that it is not obliged to render assistance when the acts that give rise to it do not constitute crimes in the Republic of Panama, and the rendering of said assistance violates legal provisions in force in the Republic of Panama."

Designation of Central Authority: (01/08/2003)
Ministerio de Gobierno y Justicia
Dirección Nacional de los Tratados de Asistencia Legal Mutua

On February 28, 2022, Panama informed the depository on the designation of the "Oficina para la ejecució de los Tratados de Asistencia Legal Mutua Ministerio de Gobierno” as the Central Authority for the purpose of the Inter-American Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters.

 

Colombia: Designation of central authority (January 13, 2003) 

A.To process requests for judicial assistance made by the authorities indicated by the States Parties to the Convention: Office of the Attorney General of Colombia  [Fiscalía General de la Nación]
B.To request judicial assistance from the authorities designated by the other States Parties to the Convention:
a.Office of the Attorney General of Colombia (Diagonal 22B No. 52-01, Ciudad Salitre, Bogotá, Colombia): for investigations conducted by that entity
b.Ministry of Justice (Avenida Jiménez No. 8-89, Bogotá, Colombia): for other cases

 

Guatemala: Reservation (January 24, 2003)

I. Interpretative declaration in respect of Article 5 of the Inter-American Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters: For interpretation of this Article, the provisions to be applied will be Book III and Article 399 of the Code of Private International Law, Decree No. 1575 of the Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Guatemala.

II. Reservation/exclusion in respect of Article 27 of the Inter-American Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters: The Republic of Guatemala will require fulfillment of the requirement of certification or authentication of documents processed under this Article.

Designation of Central Authority (July 08, 2004)

On July 8, 2004, Guatemala appointed the Ministerio Público as central authority to perform the actions and duties arising out of the Inter-American Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance.

Fiscal General de la Nación and Chief of the Ministerio Público: Lic. Juan Luis Florido Solís
Address: 8a Ave. 10-67, zona 1, Ciudad de Guatemala, Código Postal 01001
Telephone: (502) 2300874 al 76

Fax (502) 2381734

 

Chile: Designation of Central Authority (April 28, 2004)

On April 28, 2004, Chile appointed the Ministry for Foreign Affairs as central authority pursuant to article 3 of the Inter-American Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters.

On February 2, 2018, Chile informed the depository on the designation of the Unit for International Trade and Extradition of the National Prosecutor Office of the Public Ministry (Unidad de Comercio Internacional y Extradiciones de la Fiscalía Nacional del Ministerio Público) as the central authority for the following instruments:

- The Inter -American Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters;
- The Inter-American Convention Against Corruption, and
- The Inter-American Convention Against Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, and Other Related Materials.

 

Peru: Designation of Central Authority (May 05, 2004)

On May 5, 2004, Peru appointed the Ministry of Justice as its central authority, pursuant to article 3 of the Inter-American Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs its diplomatic communication channel.

On April 12, 2012, Perú informed on the designation of the "Fiscalía de la Nación - Unidad de Cooperación Judicial Internacional y Extradiciones" as the Central Authority for the purpose of the Inter-American Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters.

 

Jamaica: 

On August 12, 2004, Jamaica informed the depository of the designation of the Minister responsible for Justice or a person selected by him as the central authority for the purpose of the Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters. 

Declaration: (Made at the time of the Accession)
The Government of Jamaica makes a declaration in relation to Article 36 of the Convention in the following terms: 
‘The Government of Jamaica understands that the Convention is not intended to replace, supercede, obviate or otherwise interfere with any existing bilateral or other multilateral treaty or arrangement which relates to mutual assistance in criminal matters. 
Reservations: (Made at the time of the Accession)
The Government of Jamaica makes reservations in relation to Articles 5, 9, 1 7 and 27 in the following terms: 
In relation to Article 5, the Government of Jamaica reserves the right to refuse assistance where the conduct that gives rise to the request does not constitute an offence under the laws of Jamaica. 
In relation to Article 9, the Government of Jamaica reserves the right to refuse assistance where: 
(i.) the steps are to be taken in order to comply with the request cannot legally be taken in Jamaica in respect of criminal matters arising in Jamaica; or
(ii.) any confidentiality requested in relation to information or evidence would not be protected. 
In relation to Article 17, the Government of Jamaica reserves the right to refuse a request for the service of any process that requires the attendance of a person before a court or tribunal in the Requesting State, or in relation to which, under the law of the Requesting State, there is a penalty or other criminal sanction for non—compliance with the requirements of such document. 
In relation to Article 27, the Government of Jamaica reserves the right to request that documents processed through the Central Authority of the Requesting State be certified or authenticated in accordance with the laws of Jamaica. 
 

 

Paraguay: Designation of Central Authority (October 22, 2004) 

On October 22, 2004, Paraguay appointed as central authority to perform the functions provided for in the Inter-American Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters the Fiscalía General del Estado, especifically, the Dirección de Asuntos Internacionales y Asistencia Jurídica Externa.  

Address: Nuestra Señora de Asunción 737, esquina Víctor Haedo y Humaitá, Asunción, Paraguay
Telephone: (595) 21-415-5000, int. 162 and 157; (595) 21-415-5100 and (595) 21-454-60
E-mail:
[email protected] 

 

El Salvador: Designation of Central Authority (March 11, 2005)

On March 11, 2005, El Salvador appointed the Minister of Foreign Affairs as the central authority responsible for the delivery and reception of requests of assistance, according to article 3 of the Inter-American Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters.

On January 6, 2021, El Salvador informed the depository on the designation of the Unidad de Asuntos Legales Internacionales de la Fiscalía General de la República as the central authority for the Inter-American Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters.

On July 26, 2021, El Salvador informed the depository on the designation of the Dirección de Asuntos Internacionales as the central authority for the Inter-American Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters.

On February 16, 2022, the Permanent Mission of El Salvador to the OAS informed the depository on the designation of the central authority with contact information regarding the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption and the Inter-American Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters.

 

Argentina: Designation of Central Authority (July 20, 2007)

On July 20, 2007, Argentina appointed the Dirección de Asistencia Judicial Internacional de la Dirección General de Asuntos Jurídicos del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Comercio Internacional y Culto as central authority according to article 3 of the Inter-American Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters.

 

On May 23, 2008, Argentina informed the depository on the designation of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Commerce and Worship / Directorate-General for Legal Affairs as the central authority.

 

On  April 26, 2022, the Permanent Mission of Argentina to the OAS informed the depositary of the designation of Aldana Rohr, Director of the Directorate of International Legal Assistance (DAJIN) as the central authority for the purposes of the Inter-American Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters.

 

Bahamas 

On April 30, 2009, The Commonwealth of The Bahamas deposited the instrument of ratification to the Inter-American Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters.

Reservation in respect to Article 9 (f): "The Government of The Bahamas reserves the right to refuse assistance if the request relates exclusively to a tax offence, unless the request is made pursuant to a treaty to which The Bahamas is a party"

 

Guyana: Designation of Central Authority (October 23, 2009)

On October 23, 2009, the Republic of Guyana designated the Office of the Minister of Home Affairs as the Central Authority for the purpose of the Inter-American Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters.

Office of the Minister of Home Affairs
Ministry of Home Affairs
Brickdam,
Stabroek
Georgetown
Tel. No: 592-225-7270
Fax No. 592-227-4806
Email:[email protected] 

 

Costa Rica: Designation of Central Authority (July 23, 2013)

On July 26, 2013, Costa Rica informed on the designation of the "Oficina de Asesoría Técnica y Relaciones Internacionales (OATRI) - Ministerio Público, Fiscalía General de la República de Costa Rica" as the central authority for the -American Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters.

 

Brazil:

On April 18, 2011, Brazil informed on the designation of the "Ministerio de Justicia" as the Central Authority of the Inter-American Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters.

 

On August 19, 2016, Brazil informed the depository on the designation of the Department of Assets Recovery and International Legal Cooperation (DRCI) at the central authority of the Inter-American Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters

 

Honduras:

On July 7, 2014, the General Secretariat acknowledged receipt of a letter by the Government of the Honduras, notifying the depository of the presentation of a declaration to the “inter-American Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters;” it also informed the depository about the designation of the “Secretaría de Estado en los Despachos de Derechos Humanos, Justicia, Gobernación y Decentralización" as the central authority for the said “Inter-American Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters” and the “Optional Protocol related to the Inter-American Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters.”

 

Kazakhstan:

On November 6, 2015, Kazakhstan reported on the designation of the "Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Department for International Cooperation)" as the central authority for the Inter-American Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters.  

 

Czech Republic:

On October 17, 2019 the General Secretariat received from the Embassy of the Czech Republic in the United States the instrument of accession of the Inter-American Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters, adopted in Nassau, Commonwealth of The Bahamas, on May 23, 1992.

 

Plurinational State of Bolivia:

On February 3, 2021, the Plurinational State of Bolivia informed the depository on the designation of the central authority with contact information regarding the Inter-American Convention on Letters Rogatory, the Inter-American Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters and the Inter-American Convention on the International Return of Children. 

 

Republic of Suriname:

On August 27, 2021, the Republic of Suriname to the OAS informed the depository on the designation of the central authority with contact information regarding the Inter-American Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters.

 

Ukraine:

On February 26, 2021, Ukraine deposited the instrument of accession of the Inter-American Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters at the OAS headquarters, in Washington, D.C. United States. The instrument contains a declaration with the contact information for the central authority on the cited Convention.

 

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