15th IAP Conference 2010/The Hague The Netherlands

CONFERENCE THEME

The theme of the Conference is ‘Crossing Borders’.

The word ‘Borders’ has a variety of meanings.
The first and perhaps most well known is;
‘the line that separates one country, state, province, etc., from another; frontier line’.

Our Conference this year will focus on some of the implications of ‘cross border’ activity, both by the perpetrators of crime and those who seek to stop them.

One of the objectives of the IAP is
‘[…] to assist prosecutors internationally in the fight against organised or other crime, and for that purpose:
• to promote international co-operation in gathering and providing evidence; in tracking, seizing and forfeiting the proceeds of serious crime; and in the prosecution of fugitive criminals;
• to promote speed and efficiency in such international co-operation;’

Topics such as Human Trafficking, Organised Crime, Asset Recovery, Mutual Legal Assistance and Recovery of Fugitive Offenders, will come up for discussion during the Conference. These are familiar topics to us all but demand ever more sophisticated, clever and resourceful responses from prosecuting and law enforcement agencies. In addition and in recognition of the venue of the conference within the heart of Europe, there will be some European specific topics.

‘Borders’ also has a more generic meaning;
‘the part or edge of a surface or area that forms its outer boundary’ and so can refer to more abstract boundaries; cultural, religious, political, ideological, ethnic, gender, economic. There are also ‘borders’ between criminal justice professionals, such as police, prosecutors, judges, court officials as well as between staff within the same office which can hamper partnership working. And so you will find within the programme the opportunity to explore some of those issues and processes which can serve to divide rather than unite any community, including a community of prosecutors such as the IAP.