OAS/REMJA AND THE UNITED STATES PROVIDE
TRAINING TO JUDGES AND MAGISTRATES FROM BRAZIL, CHILE, PARAGUAY AND
BRAZIL
From November 18 to 20, 2014, the Organization of
American States, through the Working Group on Cyber-Crime of the
Meetings of Ministers of Justice or other Ministers of Attorneys General
of the Americas (REMJA), together with the United States Department of
Justice, through its Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section
(CCIPS) and its Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance
and Training (OPDAT), held a Regional Cyber-Crime Workshop for Judges
and Magistrates in Asuncion, Paraguay.
The Workshop, which provided training to more than 50 representatives
from Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay, was made possible thanks to
the collaboration of and support provided by the Supreme Court of
Justice of the Judicial Branch of Paraguay, and in particular, its
Department of International Affairs and Institutional Integrity.
The event was inaugurated by Minister Alicia Pucheta de Correa, First
Vice-President of the Supreme Court of Justice of Paraguay, who, in
addition to pointing out its importance, noted the fact that the meeting
represented an opportunity for Paraguay to update its criminal
legislation regarding cyber-offenses. Minister Pucheta also highlighted
the efforts underway in Paraguay to adhere to the Budapest Convention on
Cybercrime. Also in attendance at the inauguration of the event were the
Brazilian and Chilean Ambassadors to Paraguay, respectively, as well as
representatives from the United States Embassy to Paraguay.
Following the inauguration, Day 1 of the substantive training began with
a moderated discussion in which participants exchanged experiences
related cyber-crime cases from a judicial perspective, including the
unique challenges presented by these types of prosecutions.
Additionally, training was provided on, among others, the various forms
of crimes that can be committed via the internet; tools that can be used
to assist cyber-crime investigations and prosecutions; an analysis of
actual cyber-crime cases. Participants were also informed of the
developments that have taken place in this arena within the framework of
the Organization of American States, as well as of the resources
available in this area on the OAS Inter-American Cooperation Portal on
Cyber-Crime.
Day 2 of the Workshop focused on the sources of, handling and utility of
digital evidence; lessons learned from real-life cyber-crime cases; the
need for international cooperation and mechanisms in this regard; and
the need for countries to adopt adequate procedural legislation in the
area of cyber-crime.
Day 3 of the Workshop began with a discussion surrounding the ongoing
debate between the right to privacy and the need for investigators and
prosecutors to have access to data contained in modern devices, in order
for them to adequately investigate, prosecute and sanction cyber-crimes.
In addition, a simulated oral proceeding in a criminal trial was also
held prior to the conclusion of the event, also patterned on real-life
situations, and demonstrating the manner in which the various aspects
examined during the three-day workshop play out in criminal proceedings.
This event in Paraguay marks the first training course directed to
judges and magistrates of the Americas by the OAS Cyber-Crime Training
Program under the auspices of the REMJA and its Working Group on
Cyber-Crime. Similar regional events are scheduled to take place during
2015 for OAS Member States from the Andean Region, Central-America, and
the Caribbean, respectively.
For more information visit the Inter-American
Cooperation Portal on Cyber-Crime
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