On 2 and 3 November 2010, EU NAVFOR met with other representatives from the ”Working Group 2 on Legal Issues” of the International Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS), in Copenhagen.
The International CGPCS was created on 14 January 2009, supported by the UN Security Council Resolution 1851. The Contact Group meets regularly under the aegis of the United Nations in its New York’s Headquarters. Its four Working Groups meet regularly around the world to develop and implement national counter-piracy policies and programs.
49 countries and 7 international organizations (the European Union, the African Union, the League of Arab States, INTERPOL, International Maritime Organization, NATO, and UN Secretariat) participate in the Contact Group, along with two maritime industry groups, BIMCO and INTERTANKO, who take part as Observers.
The four Working Groups from the CGPCS are: Military and Operational Coordination, Information Sharing, and capacity Building (chaired by the United Kingdom); Judicial Issues (chaired by Denmark); Strengthening Shipping Self-Awareness and Other Capabilities (chaired by the United States); and Public Information (chaired by Egypt).
During this sixth meeting from the Working Group 2 on Legal Issues, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Legal Issues related to Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, Mr. Jack Lang, presented an outline of his work carried out so far, although he had not yet reached his final conclusions to be presented by the end of this year.
A variety of topics were covered throughout the meeting, but of particular note were presentations on further progress made by States in their efforts to facilitate prosecution of suspects and incarceration of convicted pirates; discussions on human rights standards applying to detention and transfer of suspected pirates; and discussion on the ways to facilitate seafarers’ appearance in courts as witnesses.
This meeting coincides with the first judgment yesterday in a Seychelles prosecution in connection with the interdiction of a pirate group by an EU NAVFOR warship.EU NAVFOR has to date arrested 92 individuals, of which 43 have now already stood trial and been found guilty.
The International CGPCS was created on 14 January 2009, supported by the UN Security Council Resolution 1851. The Contact Group meets regularly under the aegis of the United Nations in its New York’s Headquarters. Its four Working Groups meet regularly around the world to develop and implement national counter-piracy policies and programs.
49 countries and 7 international organizations (the European Union, the African Union, the League of Arab States, INTERPOL, International Maritime Organization, NATO, and UN Secretariat) participate in the Contact Group, along with two maritime industry groups, BIMCO and INTERTANKO, who take part as Observers.
The four Working Groups from the CGPCS are: Military and Operational Coordination, Information Sharing, and capacity Building (chaired by the United Kingdom); Judicial Issues (chaired by Denmark); Strengthening Shipping Self-Awareness and Other Capabilities (chaired by the United States); and Public Information (chaired by Egypt).
During this sixth meeting from the Working Group 2 on Legal Issues, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Legal Issues related to Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, Mr. Jack Lang, presented an outline of his work carried out so far, although he had not yet reached his final conclusions to be presented by the end of this year.
A variety of topics were covered throughout the meeting, but of particular note were presentations on further progress made by States in their efforts to facilitate prosecution of suspects and incarceration of convicted pirates; discussions on human rights standards applying to detention and transfer of suspected pirates; and discussion on the ways to facilitate seafarers’ appearance in courts as witnesses.
This meeting coincides with the first judgment yesterday in a Seychelles prosecution in connection with the interdiction of a pirate group by an EU NAVFOR warship.EU NAVFOR has to date arrested 92 individuals, of which 43 have now already stood trial and been found guilty.