THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR THE

REFORM OF CRIMINAL LAW IS AN

INTERNATIONAL NON-GOVERNMENTAL

ASSOCIATION OF JUDGES, LEGISLATORS,

LAWYERS, ACADEMICS AND GOVERNMENTAL

OFFICIALS WHO HA VE COME TOGETHER TO

WORK ACTIVELY ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF

CRIMINAL JUSTICE BOTH IN THEIR OWN

JURISDICTION AND INTERNATIONALLY.

INTERNATIONAL SOCLETY FOR THE

REFORM OF CRIMINAL LAW

SUITE 1000, 840 HOWE STREET

VANCOUVER, BJUTISH COLUMBIA, V6Z 2Ml, CANADA

Telephone: (604) 643-1252 Fax: (604) 643-1200 e-mail: secretariat@isrcl.org Website: www.isrcl.com

··~ .

INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR THE

REFORM OF CRIMINAL LAW

THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR THE

REFORM OF CRIMINAL LAW IS AN

INTERNATIONAL NON-GOVERNMENTAL

ASSOCIATION OF JUDGES, LEGISLATORS,

LAWYERS, ACADEMICS AND GOVERNMENTAL

OFFICIALS WHO HA VE COME TOGETHER TO

WORK ACTIVELY ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF

CRlMINAL JUSTICE BOTH IN THEIR OWN

JURISDICTION AND INTERNATIONALLY.

lNTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR THE REFORM OF CRIMINAL LAW

SUITE 1000, 840 HOWE STREET

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, V6Z 2M I , CANADA

Telephone: (604) 643-1252 Fax: (604) 643-1200

e-mail: secretariat @isrcl.org Website: www.isrcl.com

INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR THE REFORM OF CRJMTNAL LAW

OFFICERS - 2015 President: Hon. Justice Elizabeth Bennett, Cmm of Appeal of BC, \la11co11l'er, BC. Canada Treasurer: Donald J. Sorochan, Q.C. Barris1er. \la11co11l'er, BC. Cwwdo

THE COUNCIL Hon. Mr. Justice Carmel A. Agius I.C.T.Y .. The Hagne, Net/1erlrm ds Rl. Hon. Lord Boyd of Duncansby, Q.C. For111er Lord Adl'ocal<' of Scotland, Edi11b111·Rh, Scotland Rt. Hon. Lord Justice Brooke Court of Appeal o.f E11gland & Wales, Royal Courts o.f.lu.l'lice, London. England, Re1ired Prof. Dr. Albin Escr Max-Planck J11sti1we, Freilmrg. Ge1111a11.1• Hon. Mary Gaudron High Conrt of Australia. Sydney, A11stralia, Retired Rt. Hon. Lord Brian Gill Lord .lu.1·1ice Clerk of Scot/mu/, Edinburgh. Scot/a11d Rl. Hon . .. John S. Henry High Court of Ne 11 • Zea/011d. A11ckla11d. N.Z. , Re1ired Hon. Mr. Justice A.G. Karibi-\Vhytc S11pre111e Cour1 of Nigeria, Abuja. Nigeria, Retired Rt. Hon. Chief .Justice Beverley McLachlin S1111rc1111' Court of Canada. 0/tall'a, ON. Conado .Judge Daniel David Ntanda Nscreko Appeals Cha111ber, Special Tribunal .for Lebwwn, The Hagne. Netherlands Rl. Hon. Edward Zacca, O.,J. Chi~f'.l,w icc. Coun of Appeo/, Baha111as. Retired

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Norman Abrams Prof Of Lall' E111eri111s. U11il'ersiry o.fCa/ifom ia l/1 Los Angeles, USA Prof. Sara Sun Beale School of LL11, •. D11ke U11il'er.1"i1y. D11rha111 , N.C .. USA Hon . .Justice Elizabeth Bennett (*) Cour/ r!( Appeal of BC. \lancoul'er. /JC. Canada Damian ,I. Bugg, A.M., Q.C. (*) Far111cr Chancellor, U11i1·crsity of Tasl/lcmia. Hobart. TAS, Au.wraliu Prof'. Peter T. Burns, Q.C. (*) Deem E111eri111.1. Facu/1_1· of LL11 ,·, Unil'ersi1y of Bri1ish Co/11mbio, \lcmco11ver, BC. Canada Prof_ Roger Clurk Rlllgl!rs U11il ·crsi1y School of Lall'. Camden, USA Or . .Jonathan Clough Farnlry of Low. Mo11as/1 Unil'ersi1y. C/a.1•1011 \!IC. Australia Hon. J.A. Coldrey, Q.C. Chair. \lictoria11 /11st it111e r~f Forc11sic Medicine, Melboume \!IC. Aus1ralia ,John Conroy, Q.C. Barrisier, Abbo1.iford, BC. Co11oda Chief Judge Thomas Crabtree PrMincial Co11 r1 of British Co/11mbio. \lanco111'cr. BC, Canada Catherine Dyer Cm11·11 Age,,/ & Chi~( £tccut fre. Glasgow. Sco1/a11d Dr. Peter M. German Regio110/ Deputy Co111111issioncr, Correctiorwl Sen •ices Canada. Abbotsford, /JC. Canada Magistrate Anthony Gett Magistrate ·s Co11r1, Cai m s QLD. Au.,·trolia Hon. Justice Patrick Healy Court rifQuebec. Mo11treal. QC, Co11ada Tyler Hodgson Borris/er. Toronto Canada Dr- Edward G. Hoscah Director Ge11era/, Pre1•e111io11 011d Combmi11g of Corr11p1ion Bureau, Dor-Es-S11/ua111, Ton~m,ia Elizabeth Howe OBE Chair, J,11/. Legal Assi.1w 11ce Consortium. Stockho/1/1 , Sweden Hon. Marshall Irwin District Coun ofQ11ee11s/011d. Brisbane QLD. Australia. Re1ired Livia .Jakobs /Jorris1er!Researcher. Leiden Unfrcrsity, Leidl'11 , Ne 1herland.r Hon. Gregory R_ James, A.M., QC Presitle/11, N.S. IV. Menwl Health Rcl'ie11· Tribu11al. Syd11 ey. Aus1ralia Mikael ,Johansson Arfrisur, Raoul \llal/e11berg b1S1it111e '!t' Huu1a11 Rig Ills, Lund, Sweden Robert Johnson Auomey at Law. Anoka, MN. USA Claire Loftus Direclor. ()_/ji,-e of D.P.P. of Ireland. D11b/i11, lre/a11d Prof. Linda A. Malone College of l\lil/iam & Ma,y. Sc/wol rif LL11 ,•. \Vil/iol/lsb11rg, \IA, USA Sheriff' Norman Mc.Fad yen, CBE Sheri.ff Cmm s. A l'r. Scotland Greg Melick, S.C. (*) Borri.wer, Hobart, Australia Hon. Justice Richard G. Mosley (* ) Federal Court o.f C011odo. Ouall'a, Canada

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I Crime and Criminal Justice - Exploring the International, Transnational and Local Perspectives Washington, USA October 2012

This conference discussed the latest research & practical criminal justice strategies to fommlate legal & policy

responses to the issues of international trafficking of drugs, fireanns, counterfeit products, stolen natural resources & people; economic crimes such as piracy & money laundering; bow domestic courts should exercise universal jurisdiction, & best practices for the appropriate use of criminal law & incarceration, as well as other related matters.

I International Responses to Social & Justice Challenges Hobart, Australia August, 2013

J This conference examined challenges that vulnerable populations, particularly women and children, present as

they come into contact with the criminal justice system as victims of violence & abuse: explored tbe relationships between mental illness & criminal behaviour; presented innovative & effective approaches for addressing the challenges associated with these populations; the threat of corruption to societies; and discussed issues surrounding fiream1s control.

Crime & Punishment - Back to the Future for Sentencing & Corrections Reform Vancouve~ Canada June, 2014

This conference considered sentencing and corrections refom1s in the context of 2 significant historical events:

the publication of Cesare Beccaria's essay "On Crimes and Punishments" and "The Ouimet Report of the Canadian Committee on Corrections" . Other topics included sentencing mechanisms & corrections policies.

Crossing Boundaries Evidence & Extradition Edinburgh, Scotland

Exploitation, e-Crime,

June, 2015

With an increase in appreciation of the global nature of crime in the 2 J st century, no matter the size of a

domestic jurisdiction, over the last generation all involved in working for justice have witnessed the rapid rise in complexity of crime detection and prevention, as physical and virtual elements of evidence require to be pursued across jurisdictions.

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Codifying the Criminal Law: Modern .Initiatives Dublin, Ireland July, 2008

This conference took place against the backdrop of the launch in 2007 of the Irish Criminal Law Codification

Project. Topics for discussion included the current Irish codification initiative; differing approaches to codification in the common law tradition; the constitutional framework of codification; codifying the general principles of criminal liability; codifying excuse & justification defences; & codifying the Special Part, with particular emphasis on homicide & sexual offences.

2009

While no international conference was held in 2009, two regional symposia were organized for local member

participation.

Regional Symposium - Vancouver, Canada Regional Symposium - Nigeria

Economic Crime, Crimes Against Economies, and Economics Influences on Crime Lisbon, Portugal June 2010

1 The theme of this year's conference was economic crime, which consists of offenses for which victims incur an

economic cost or in which offenders act, individually or in conce1i, in order to gain financial returns. Some of these crimes pose a threat to whole economies and nation-states. Some of the topics included Global and EU Programmes to Implement Measures Against International Economic Crime and Against Money-Laundering, Proceeds of Crime and Financing ofTerrorism.

Globalization of Crime -Criminal Justice Responses Ottawa, Canada August, 2011

This conference was hosted jointly with the International Centre for Criminal Law Reform & Crimjnal Justice

Policy with a focus on emerging crimes and new approaches to combating crime. Topics included dealing with transnational organized criminal groups which traffick in drugs, fiream1s, counterfeit products, stolen natural resources and people, as well as smuggling migrants across borders and engaging in maritime piracy and cybercrime, and the responses of numerous jurisdictions to these plus other criminal justice problems.

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Richard C.C. Peck, Q.C. (*) Barrister. Vcmcouver. BC. Canada Prof. Ellen S. Podgor S1e1so11 U11iversi1y College of La ll'. Guljj1or1, USA Hon. M. Ann Rowles Presidenr, l111enw1io11a/ Ce111rejrJr Criminal Lm,· R~(orm & Cri111i11al Jus1ice Policy. Va11cnuve r. BC. Canada Donald J. Sorochan, Q.C. (*) Barris/er, \la11co111•er, BC. Ca11ada Sergeant Fiona \'Vilson \lancouPer Pa/ice Dep1 .. \la11co111•er, BC. Canada Prof. Vincent Cheng Yang PhD Universiry af Sailll .Iosep/, , Macau, China Hon. Juslicc Kashim Zannah Chief Jmlge. Higi, Cmm of Bomo. Nigeria Brian Tkachuk E.recwive Direc101; h,temational Center/or Criminal La11• Reform and Criminal Justice Policy, Vancouver, BC, Ca11ada Professor William Schabas Middlesex Universi(v. London. UK

(*) Management Committee of the Society

AONOURARY JVIBMBERS Hon. Sir Gerard Brennan Cl,ief)11S1ice ofAustralia, Re1ired Rt. Hon. John S. Henry /-fig!, Cour/ of New Zealand, Retired Rt. Hon. Lord Ross Lard Jusrice Clerk of Sco1la11d. Rerired Gordon Nicholson, Q.C. Sherij]'Princip~I of Scar/and, Rerired

CRlMINAL LAW FORUM: EDTTORlAL BOARD

EDITOR IN CHIEF: Professor William Sc ha bas Prof OJJ111em a1iona/ La\\\ Middlesex Unil•ersi1y. Londan. UK Professor Norman Abrams Prof: Of Lc111• Emerillls, UCLA , Los Angeles. CA. USA Professor Diane Amann UC Dm'i.l" School of Lc111·, DaPis, CA. USA Professor Andrew Ashworth King:, College. Universiry o/Lrmdon. UK Damian.). Bugg, A.M., Q.C. Former Chancellor. Univer.,i1y ofTa.mumia, Hobart , TA S. A11s1ralia Professor Roger Clark R111gers U11i1 •ersi(v School ef Law, Camden. USA Yvon Dandurand ICCLR, \lanco11 Per, BC, Canada Nick Dower Office oftl, e Direcwro(P11b/ic Prosecu1io11s. B,i sbane. A11siralia Chile Eboc-Osuji 1111/. Criminal Tribunal fo r Rll'anda. Aruslw, Tan:.a11ia Ronald L. Gainer Arwmev. Washing/011 , DC, USA Professor Richard W. Hardfog Crime Research Centre, University of fVestern Australia, Per//, , Ausrra/ia Prof. Lella N. Sadat 1Va.\'/,i11g1011 U11il'. Sd wol of lei \\', Sr. Louis. USA .Judge Daniel David Nlanda Nsereko Appeals Chamber, Special Tribunal f or Lebanon. 111<' Hag11~. Nerl,er/ands Professor Pierre Robert Depr. Des sciences juridiques. Unil'ersire d11 Q11ebec a Montreal. Mo111real. Qc. Ca11ada Donald J. Sorochan, Q.C. Treasure,; ISRCL. Va 11co11ve1: BC. Canada Judge Ekaterina Trcndafilo,•a /11te r11n1io11t1/ Criminal Courr. Th e /-/ague, Netherlands Judge Francoise Tulkcns £11ropean Con rt af H11111a11 Ri1;hts. S1rasbot1r~. France

Ex Officio Kai Ambos Geo1g-A 11g11sr-Universi1ii1. & Judge. Slate Court. Go11i11gen. Germany

The Origins of the Society

Jn July 1987, over 200 experts from Australia, Canada, .I.the United Kingdom , New Zealand , other Commonwealth countries, the United States, Europe and lsrael gathered at the lnns of Court in London to discuss the refom, of criminal law and the criminal justice system.

Over the course of the London conference, the participants analyzed the sources and the possible outcomes of movements for criminal law reform which had developed in their own countries. They examined the present need for reform; the social context for reform; the general principles which should fonn its basis ; and how refonn should be accomplished. Delegates also looked at possible specific refonns in a number of areas.

At the conclusion of the London conference, the participants called for the es tab I ishment of an international body to bring together those actively working for the improvement of the criminal law and the administration of criminal justice. A number of the pa11icipants took up that challenge and founded the Society in January 1988.

The Society's Purpose

In addition to encouraging members to develop their individual interests and, in turn, providing a network to

enable others to support their interests, the Society encourages joint research and policy development among individuals and government bodies from different jurisdictions. As will be seen below, since its inception, the Society has demonstrated its dedication to the need to aid in the exploration of trans-national strategies to improve criminal law policy and legislation .

Membership

Persons are invited to be members of the Society by the Board. Members are encouraged to nominate their

colleagues for membership. Interested persons are invited to apply for membership.

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I Convergence of Criminal Justice Systems: Building Bridges, Bridging the Gap

I Den Haag, Netherlands August, 2003

Tb.is conference provided a forum for the study of the differing approaches to international criminal justice

systems, a comparative analysis of criminal law and its processes in the common and civil law, as well as a glimpse at the criminal justice systems ofnon-Westem legal cultures.

Keeping Justice Systems Just and Accountable: A Principled Approach in Challenging Times Montreal, QC, Canada August, 2004

This conference examined cuffent challenges to national criminal justice systems & the developing international

criminal justice system, & how these systems can become & then remain just & fair by adhering to established principles, nonns and standards, including constitutional requirements.

Modernisation of Criminal Justice Systems Edinburgh, Scotland, U.K. June, 2005

This conference examined the impetus for change in criminal justice systems, the rise of crime as a political

subject, & the impact ofteclmology & evidential techniques. The conference also discussed modernisation of criminal justice systems in the post-conflict of failed states, & also looked at infrastructures of communities & how economic & social structures affect the modernisation process.

Justice for All - Victims, Defendants, Prisoners, and the Community Brisbane, Queensland, Australia July, 2006

The conference examined the criminal justice system to ensure that victims, defendants, prisoners, and the

community receive a just outcome. It examined critical pretrial issues, consistency in sentencing, the role of the victim in sentencing, the relevance of prisoner rehabilitation , sentencing courts, and punishment in general.

Twenty Years of Criminal Justice Reform: Past Achievements and Future Challenges Vancouver, BC, Canada June, 2007

The 20th Anniversary Conference re-visited and re­assessed the topics including the development of

international criminal law, the lnternational Criminal Court and the ad hoc international tribunals; international security and the criminal law; human rights and equality in the administration of criminal justice; international legal cooperation; the reforn1 of the law of evidence; police powers of search, seizure and affest.

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Drugs, Criminal Justice and Social Policy St. Michael, Barbados August, 1998

This conference examined the many issues involved in illegal drug use including tbe problems and responses of

different jurisdictions, anti-corruption measures and actions to identify and seize proceeds of drug crimes. The conference also studied the alternative approaches to combating the problem from an economic perspective as well as the health, social and criminal justice policy choices that have aiisen from the relationship between injection drug use and HIV/AIDS.

Commercial & Financial Fraud: A Comparative Perspective St.Julians,Malta July, 1999

A comparative approach to the consideration of fraud in the fields of insurance, securities, banking, and others

as wel I as national and international responses to these issues focused on current developments worldwide.

Human Rights & the Administration of Criminal Justice Sand ton, South Africa December, 2000

This conference examined the development of the protection of human rights internationally and the

influence of these developments on the national criminal justice systems in various jurisdictions and also examined the international response to human rights crimes, and current developments of international criminal courts.

Politics, Crime and Criminal Justice Canberra, Australia August, 2001

This conference explored the inter-relationship of politics and criminal justice systems including international

treaties, programs and cooperative measures adopted to combat corruption internationally; the inter-relationship of police, prosecutor and judiciary; media influences upon the development of criminal law, justice policy and the administration of the criminal justice system.

Technology and its Effects on Criminal Responsibility, Security, and Criminal Justice Charleston, SC, USA December, 2002

The conference addressed the rapid advances of science and technology in the many different arenas related to

crime and the enforcement and administration oftbe criminal law: new technological crime and security threats, which in turn have given rise to new technologies to combat these threats and other mechanisms to ensure a cooperative response by law enforcement and justice systems around the world; the use and admissibility of scientific evidence.

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f

Financing of the Society

The Society is a non-profit charitable association incorporated under the laws of Canada. ln the

discussions that lead to its fonnation, the founders were strongly of the view that the Society must retain its independence of thought and action from government. Accordingly, the Society's key activities and its member services are primarily funded by an annual membership levy and donations. The Society does, however, solicit financial assistance for specific conferences, seminars, or projects from government departments, agencies, law foundations, and other foundations .

Funding for specific projects has been obtained from The British Council, the Departments of Justice of Canada and New Zealand, The Home Office, the Attorney General's Department of Australia, tbe Victoria Law Foundation, the Law Foundation of British Columbia, the Law Foundation of Nova Scotia and the Canadian International Development Agency. The Law Refonn Commission of Canada, the CoJTectional Service of Canada and the British Columbia Corrections Branch have also provided important material and financial assistance in the past.

The Board and Council

The Society is governed by its Board and a Management Committee. The Society's officers

consist of the President and the Treasurer. In addition to the Board, there is also a Council of the Society composed of distinguished members of the Society. Working with the Board, tbe Council's major role is to set the general policy directions for the Society.

The Program of Activities

The Society's program of activities is detemtined by tbe members' needs and wishes. Each year, members

are asked to forward suggestions for the program for the following two years. In December, the Board confim,s the program for the following year and outlines plans for the subsequent year. Members are sb·ongly encouraged to forward ideas and requests to the President or the Treasurer.

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I Internet Web Page

Tbe Society operates a web page at www.isrcl.com to .1. facilitate the exchange ofinfonnation to members.

Criminal Law Forum

In 1991 , the Society established a new international journal Criminal Law Forum, with the Rutgers

University School of Law at Camden, New Jersey. The Forum, now completing its twenty-sixth volume, is intended to promote new thinking about the fi.mdamental principles of the criminal law, to encourage comparative criminal law analysis and trace the development of new international criminal law. The Forum is currently published by Springer Verlag, Gennany.

The Forum publishes major articles, conference papers, notes, comments, speeches, documents of interest, book reviews, notes of documents and books received. All members of the Society receive the Forum .

The United Nations Link

Tbe Society participates as a professional organization in the work of the United Nations Crime Prevention

and Criminal Justice Program through the International Scientific and Professional Advisory Council. Members of the Society have participated in numerous U.N. Meetings.

The Commonwealth

Tbe Society has a continuing relationship with both the Legal Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat in

London and with the Commonwealth of Leaming, the Commonwealth's specialized educational agency, located in Vancouver, Canada.

In 1989, members of the Society prepared, at the Commonwealth Secretariat's request, a policy paper for Commonwealth Law Ministers on Consistency in Sentencing.

The Society worked with the Commonwealth of Leaming on a feasibility study of co-operative ventures between Commonwealth countries in continuing judicial education with a specia l focus on the use of distance education technologies in bringing such programs to developing countries.

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100 Years of Criminal Codes Ottawa, Ontario, Canada June, 1993

Thi s conference focused on the development of the criminal law in many jurisdictions in the l 00 years

since Stephen's criminal code was first adopted in Canada in 1893.

The Corporation and the Criminal Law - Victim and Violator Hong Kong December, 1994

I This conference comprehensively examined all aspects of the interaction of the criminal law and tl1e

modern corporation, from the intersection of the corresponding legal theories to the actual application of the ciiminal law to corporations.

The Medfa and the Criminal Justice System: Fair Trial v. Free Press An International Perspective Santa Monica, California, U.S.A. December, 1995

The relationship of the media and the criminal justice system in many jurisdictions was considered with an

examination of media influence on public policy, trial processes and investigations, among other issues.

Challenges to Criminal Justice in a Changing World Whistler, B.C. Canada August, 1996

Three topics were examined at this conference: sentencing and corrections issues from an

international perspective; the independence ofjudges and lawyers and the role of tl1e judiciary and lawyers in implementing international human rights standards and a fo llow-up of discussions initiated at the 1994 Hong Kong conference relating to the prevention, detection and prosecution ofcommercial crime.

Law & Justice: Where Now? - 10th Anniversary Conference Inns of Court, London, England July, 1997

This conference explored: new approaches to the problem of youth crime; police investigative powers; the

development ofan international criminal court; and the role of national criminal justice systems in the battle against international organized crime.

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Reform of Sentencing, Parole and Early Release The Parliament Buildings, Ottawa, Canada August, 1988

Two hundred delegates from five continents participated . The conference considered the

principles and objectives underlying sentencing and issues of judicial discretion as well as current controversies related to issues of early release, victim compensation and the influence of media and public opinion.

Police Powers and Citizens' Rights Opera House, Sydney, Australia March, 1989

This conference examined several issues dealing with the police and the range of powers they possess.

Sessions examined the extent to which police action can control crime and discussed a range of problems in dealing with relations between police and the community.

Criminal Code Reform Washington, D.C., USA January, 1990

D ecent developments in Canada, the U.K., U.S.A, Rf-ranee, New Zealand, Australia and other countries made this a very relevant topic. The current state of law reforn1 in various countries was discussed, as well as suggesting the range of just, effective, efficient and economical elements that should be incorporated into such reform.

Equality in the Administration of Criminal Justice: Gender, Race and Class Edinburgh, Scotland August, 1990

The fifth Society conference critically examined the incidence and sources of inequality in the

administration of criminal justice in the jurisdictions of Society members.

Reform of Evidence Vancouver, B.C., Canada August, 1992

The examination of this topic included various theories of proof, a comparative analysis of the theories of

criminal evidence of different jurisdictions, cross-cultural perspectives on the proof process and legal and constitutional considerations relating to the proof process.

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The Council of Europe

In September 1991, the Society was accorded observer status on crime problems by the Council of Ministers of

the Council of Europe. The Society's participation in the work of the Council in this area will provide criminal justice policy makers in Europe with another valuable link with their counterparts in the jurisdictions in which the Society has members.

The Creation of the International Centre

In February 1991 , the Society signed an agreement with Simon Fraser University and the University of British

Columbia to establish the International Centre for Criminal Law Reforn1 and Criminal Justice Policy in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Centre was incorporated in 1992 as a society with its own Board of Directors and became associated as an Institute of the United Nations in the summer of that year. In July I 995 an agreement was signed with the United Nations to fonnally affiliate the Centre as an International Institute of the United Nations.

As a centre of excellence on issues in international and comparative criminal law and justice policy, its activities include policy development , research, training development and infonnation dissemination. The Centre assists the United Nations and other multi-national institutions as one of a co-operative network of regional and research institutes in crime prevention and criminal justice. The Centre supports the activities of the Society for the Refonn of Criminal Law as well as the graduate programs of Simon Fraser University in international criminal justice policy and of the University of British Columbia in international and comparative criminal law.

The Centre 's activities include:

• Development of policies relating to the International Tribunal for Crimes in the former Yugoslavia and a future pennanent international criminal court

•

•

•

Advice and assistance to national governments on criminal law and procedure, international human rights and the administration of criminal justice

Advice on model legislation for the use of criminal sanctions to protect the environment

A global training and advisory service to prevent and address domestic violence

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•

•

•

•

•

•

•

The development of an international peacekeeping training program

Studies of organized crime, national , trans-national and international crime, economic crime, money laundering, and the impact on women and children

Education, communication and information dissemination

Advancing common curricula in trans-national and comparative criminal law and criminal justice

The Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada Lecture Series

The development of electronic information resources in the fields on criminal law and criminal justice policy

Contribution to the work of the United Nations Prevention of Crime and Criminal Justice Commission and United Nations Criminal Justice Congresses.

International Meetings and Seminars

In January I 990, the Society's British members held a seminar to assess the prospects for a new criminal code

for England and Wales. In October 1990, the Society members in Southern Africa organized a seminar on Human Rights in theAdministration of Criminal Justice in Southern Africa, set in Botswana. A second seminar was held in Namibia in June 1992, and a third in Zimbabwe in September 1993. In May I 99 I the Society and the Max Planck Institute for Foreign and International Criminal Law in Freiburg, Ge1111any held a workshop on "Principles and Procedures For a New Transnational Criminal Law."

In September 1992, the Society along with the Ministry of Justice of Slovakia and the Helsinki institute for Crime Prevention and Control (an institute affiliated with the United Nations) held an international seminar which examined what changes must be made to a system of criminal justice in the wake ofa transition from a one party to a multi-party state.

Society members are also very involved in the movement towards a common criminal code for all the Australia jurisdictions and the meetings held to further such refonns. ln cooperation with the International Centre, international symposia and meetings have been undertaken on a wide range of topics.

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•

I In 1993, 70 leading experts from 30 countries convened to discuss and contribute to the International Law

· Commission's proposal to establish an international tribunal for the prosecution of individuals responsible for grave breaches of international humanitarian law committed in the teITitory of the former Yugoslavia since 1991 . The report was transmitted by External Affairs, Canada to the U.N. Secretary-General and was utilized extensively in the design of the new International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia.

In 1995, the International Centre held a meeting of The International Advisory Committee on Domestic Violence. The ·Centre also completed a review of international activities in the field of sentencing and coITections and distributed a consultation paper to serve as the focal point for the development of a program by the International Centre. This was achieved in co-operation with the Correctional Service of Canada and other national and international pa1tners to bring about the international implementation of universally recognized human values and principles applicable to sentencing and coJTections.

Since the International Centre was created (see page 4 ), most seminars and international meetings have been conducted under auspices of the Centre.

A symposium under the auspices of the Society was held in

I May 2005 in Tanzania on the "Delive1y of Criminal Justice Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa". This symposium, under the able chai1111anship of Edward Hoseah, was attended by senior judges, prosecutors, ministers, academics, police and corrections officials from many sub-Saharan jurisdictions.

Conferences

Since its inception, the International Society For The Refom1 of Criminal Law has given high priority to the

organization of conferences, workshops and symposia on a wide range of topics consistent with its aims and purposes. What follows is a list of the various international meetings held, their locations and topics.

Reform of the Criminal Law The lnns of Court, London, England July, 1987

The organizational conference has already been described.

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