2005 Meeting of Commonwealth Law Ministers and Senior Officials

Memoranda

Criminal Law Issues

Report on the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons Within the Commonwealth

Introduction. Small arms and light weapons as a commonwealth priority. United nations programme of action. Recent initiatives and developments. States' existing obligations under international law. Common approaches to addressing salw problems. Considering the role of the commonwealth secretariat. Action by Law Ministers.

International Humanitarian Law (IHL)

Introduction. Encouraging improved ihl implementation. (a) Treaty accession. (b) Legislative implementation. (c) National Committees. Action by Law Ministers: Action by the Commonwealth Secretariat: Promoting commonwealth work on controlling the transfer of small arms and light weapons (SALW) to violators of IHL. Action by Law Ministers: Action by the Commonwealth Secretariat: Announcing the customary international humanitarian law study.

Criminal Defamation in the Commonwealth - a Case for Abolition

Background. History. The role of the commonwealth press union. Brief overview of criminal defamation status in select commonwealth countries. Australia. Canada. Commonwealth Caribbean. Nigeria. Conclusion.

Human Rights Education and Awareness Projects

Commonwealth best practice. Human rights education - model human rights courses and curricula. Human rights education - rights education for youth. Human rights education - police and law enforcement officers. Human rights education - curriculum development in schools. Human rights education - the media and legal issues of freedom of the press. Human rights education - human rights in counter-terrorism. Conclusion - human rights education - general matters.

The Harare Scheme on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters: Possible Amendments to the Scheme and Discussion of Interception of Communications and Related Matters

Introduction and terms of reference. Possible amendments to the harare scheme on mutual assistance. Preservation of Computer Data. Possible action. Interception of communications. Possible action. Annex 1. Summary of Recommendations of the expert working group. Annex 2. Scheme relating to mutual assistance in criminal matters within the commonwealth including amendments made by Law Ministers in April 1990 and November 2002. Purpose and scope. Meaning of country. Criminal matter. Requests for ...

Civil Recovery of Criminal Assets and Terrorist Property: Harare Scheme on Mutual Assistance and Draft Model Legislative Provisions

Introduction. Draft model law on civil recovery of criminal assets including terrorist property. Consideration by senior officials. Action by law ministers. Annex 1. Draft commonwealth model legislative provisions on the civil recovery of criminal assets including terrorist property. Division 1 - Interpretation. 1. Definitions. 2. General Provisions. Division 2 - Restraining Orders. 3. Restraining Order. 4. Ancillary orders - Receivers. 5. Ancillary orders - Persons Affected by Restraining Or...

Enhancing Legal Co-operation Within the Commonwealth: Proposal for the Establishment of the Commonwealth Network of Contact Persons

Introduction. Background of other networks. European Judicial Network. The Spanish and Portuguese Speaking Network. The commonwealth network - the proposed scheme. Objective of the network. Composition. Functions of the network. Functions of the contact points. Meetings of the contact points in the network. Web page and list of contact points. Contacts with other networks and countries. Cost. Senior officials. Annex. Commonwealth network of contact persons (CNCP) framework of the CNCP. Articl...

Further Initiatives in Capacity Building to Combat Terrorism

Background. Initiatives. Abuse of Technology. Action Sought. Tracking and Disrupting the Movement of Terrorists and Preventing Abuse of Travel Documents. Action sought. Abuse of Refugee Systems. Action sought. Abuse of Charities or Non-Profit/Non-Governmental Organisations. Action Sought.

Revised Commonwealth Statement of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime

Annex. Draft commonwealth statement of basic principles of justice for victims of crimes.