UNODC and partners held the Annual Plenary Meeting of the Judicial Cooperation Network for Central Asia and Southern Caucasus in the Kyrgyz Republic

On 29-30 May 2023, UNODC held the Annual Plenary Meeting of the Judicial Cooperation Network for Central Asia and Southern Caucasus jointly with the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Kyrgyz Republic. The event was conducted within the framework of the of the Judicial Cooperation Network for Central Asia and Southern Caucasus (CASC) with financial support by INL.

The meeting aimed to strengthen inter-regional cooperation in criminal matters, share expertise and good practices between practitioners on international cooperation in criminal matters to prevent and combat organized and serious crime in Central Asia and Southern Caucasus. It also provided opportunity to discuss strategic direction of cooperation within the CASC Network.

The event brought together 45 representatives (both onsite and online) of central and competent authorities from Central Asia, including CASC Network contact points and experts from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Saudi Arabia and Thailand, as well as other organizations and judicial cooperation networks, such as Eurojust, European Judicial Network, Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre for Combating Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and their Precursors (CARICC), the South-East Asia Justice Network (SEAJust) and West African Network of Central Authorities and Prosecutors (WACAP) took part in the event. Several UNODC initiatives such as StAR, GLOBe, IREN Network, Cybercrime and AML/CFT initiative presented their best practices.

The first day of the event was devoted to discussing general issues related to international cooperation in criminal matters such as current trends, challenges, and achievements in the areas; training of central authorities and more effective coordination and collaboration by involved agencies and networks. These sessions were aimed at providing necessary platform for countries of Central Asia and Southern Caucasus, as well as regional initiatives to share actual data and best practices in the area. The first day was finalized by specific thematic area - tips and lessons learned on international cooperation in investigation of trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants’ cases.

The second day was focused on specific thematic topics, such as joint investigation teams and parallel (mirror) investigation, money laundering, asset recovery, and the investigation of corruption cases, preventing and combating cybercrime cases, combating illicit drug trafficking and transnational organized crime with focus on operational analysis and technical assistance. Furthermore, a separate session devoted to international cooperation in criminal matters and gender related issues was aimed at exploring the possibility of identifying of actions in Central Asia to address specific issues related to gender equity and women empowerment in international cooperation field.

The participants indicated high demand to cooperate in the area of joint investigation teams, parallel investigation and digitalization of international cooperation in criminal matters. In the framework of the open debate and conclusions the CASC Network Secretariat gathered and summarized related recommendations for more effective and efficient international cooperation in criminal matters for better addressing global threats in the current challenging circumstances. Four (4) practical cases were facilitated in the margins of the meeting. 

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The Judicial Cooperation Network for Central Asia and Southern Caucasus (CASC Network) is a unique cooperation platform that supports its members in strengthening interregional cooperation to prevent and combat transnational organized crime through the facilitation of communication with other regions and cooperation networks. And the Plenary Meeting is an important event of the network that helps its members to identify and discuss strategic development and directions of further cooperation within this network. 

The previous Plenary Meeting was held on 1-2 June 2022 in collaboration with the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The meeting provided a forum to discussions for legal practitioners and facilitated dialogue between the members of the network and partners outside the CASC region. The meeting was aimed to strengthen international cooperation in criminal matters, share expertise and good practices between practitioners this area.

For further information please contact:              

Arifa Fatikhova    

Communications and External Relations Officer 

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) 

Regional Office for Central Asia

Mobile: (+998 99) 825-05-43 | Email: arifa.fatikhova[at]un.org