The highest authorities of the Americas in matters of Justice, brought together by the Organization of American States (OAS), concluded today their meeting in Brasilia with the adoption of a series of conclusions and recommendations aimed at strengthening effectiveness, efficiency and flow in the joint action of States to prevent, prosecute and fight crime in the region.

The Eight Meeting of Ministers of Justice or other Ministers and Attorneys General of the Americas (REMJA VIII), which lasted three days, saw the participation of the highest authorities in matters of legal and judicial cooperation from more than 25 member states of the OAS.

Subjects on the agenda included concrete measures to strengthen legal and judicial cooperation in the Americas; the promotion of tools to strengthen mutual assistance in penal and extradition matters; measures against cybercrime; assistance and protection to victims and witnesses; prison and penitentiary policy and hemispheric cooperation on matters of forensic investigation, the fight against human trafficking and support for family and child’s rights.

In the context of the meeting, the OAS General Secretariat, represented by Assistant Secretary General Albert Ramdin, signed an Agreement of Cooperation with the Ibero-American Association of Public Ministries whose President, Spain’s Attorney General, Cándido Conde-Pumpido, participated as an observer of REMJA VIII. The objective of the agreement is to establish the general foundations to strengthen and facilitate coordination, cooperation and collaboration between the two entities, as well as the exchange of information on relevant aspects of their respective programs and work plans.

The IX Meeting of Ministers of the Americas will be held in El Salvador in 2012. This future meeting will review the commitments made today by the legal authorities and the progress reached on the various subjects discussed at the meeting in Brasilia. More information on this process is available here.

Reference: E-057/10