The OSCE Transnational Threats Division has launched a new training guide on human rights compliance in cybercrime investigations.
Cybercrime and other crimes involving electronic evidence can impact human rights such as the right to privacy, fair trial, freedom of expression, and protection of property. This guide will help raise criminal justice practitioners’ awareness of that fact and protect human rights in their day-to-day investigative activities.
“This publication aims to build the capacity of participating countries to address emerging criminal threats, including those posed by new technologies. It will help ensure that this is done in line with international human rights standards,” stressed Alena Kupchina, OSCE’s Coordinator of Operations to Combat Transnational Threats.
“Protecting human rights is an obligation under international law and is critical to effectively investigating and prosecuting crimes of this nature. Compliance with human rights ensures access to electronic evidence and admissibility in court. and to build public trust, all of which are important elements of the criminal justice response,” said Rainer Franos, Deputy Director-General for Criminal Law and Proceedings at the Ministry. Judge of the Federal State of Hesse, Germany.
Robert Golovinek, Director-General of the Directorate General for Criminal Law and Human Rights at the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Slovenia, agreed, adding: It is important to ensure that criminal justice practitioners have the necessary knowledge and understanding of these issues. Tools like this guide play an important role in raising awareness of human rights considerations. ”
The launch, held on the sidelines of the 2023 OSCE Law Enforcement/Security Cooperation Division Annual Conference, brought together staff from OSCE field operations and agencies working in police-related activities.
This guide was developed under the super-budget project “Building Capacity to Combat Cybercrime in Central Asia” funded by the United States, Germany and South Korea.