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COLLECTIVE EFFORT NEEDED TO CREATE TRUST IN LEGAL SYSTEM,
OAS ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL TELLS HEMISPHERE’S JUSTICE MINISTERS

At the close today of the Sixth Meeting of Ministers of Justice and Attorneys General of the Americas, the Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Albert Ramdin, said collective efforts are needed to create a legal system that offers confidence and trust, and contributes to a peaceful, secure environment.

The three-day meeting, held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, brought together the region’s leading judicial authorities to consider a range of justice -related issues. The Vice President of the Dominican Republic, Rafael Alburquerque, and Attorney General Francisco Domínguez Brito joined the ministers and other delegates from OAS member states, as well as members of the diplomatic corps and other guests.

In closing remarks, Ramdin stressed the need for an environment conducive to peace and security, because otherwise there can be no meaningful social and economic development. He said collaboration is crucial to achieving better results, more rapidly and more effectively.

The Assistant Secretary General, who officially opened the ministerial meeting on Monday, called for continued support for hemispheric legal cooperation initiatives such as the hemispheric Information Exchange Network for Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters and Extradition, the Justice Studies Center of the Americas, and the proposed Hemispheric Plan of Action against Transnational Organized Crime.

Ramdin argued for strengthening the hemisphere’s judicial systems as “an unquestionable and immediate imperative.” He cited “disturbing” statistics from the 2005 Latinobarómetro survey data in which 66% of respondents indicate little or no confidence in the judicial branch, while only 31% claim to have strong or some confidence in it. The survey also found that only 34% believe “the court system punishes the guilty,” compared to 60% who say they do not believe this is the case. Such negative perceptions are disquieting and require a policy response, said Ramdin.

While noting the need to modernize institutions charged with administering justice in member states, Ambassador Ramdin said justice systems can only function efficiently and effectively when due importance is placed on mechanisms that enable states to cooperate to fight crime, without their borders becoming barriers that obstruct justice and aid and abet criminals.

The recommendations from the Justice Ministers will be considered at the upcoming OAS General Assembly, which will also take place in the Dominican Republic in early June.

Reference: E-102/06