Amensty & ICCL seminar: Human Rights and Policing Practice: Local, Regional and Global Prespectives.

by pc Fri May 07, 2004 22:15

speakers included

Susie Alegre of Amnesty International
Nuola O'Loan Norhtern Irelnad Police Ombudsman
Rep of Interpol
Rep of Gardai
charied by Ashling from ICCL

firstly i would recommend anyone and everyone going them... what was noted by me and another was that ngo and human rights reps would be there but it wouldn't be a bad idea for even more direct activist to go to get information from these sort of seminars as it will effect you directly when your out and about.

seeing a person organising the mayday protests re: the eu having a cup of tea and chat with a man from interpol was an strange sight

also you and I often feel out of place at these things, they seem far too academic but anyone can and should go... you can ask direct questions to the some key people whether or not they answer them or not is another question, and of course you can make good contacts with the speakers or fellow audience

This seminar was mainly about international co-operation between police forces and the "european arrest warrent" so it did go over my head a bit...

it was noted that the EAW was hurried out after 9-11 and procedures for keeping an eye on how its used haven't moved as quick...

so when the EAW is/wiil be used problems occur with getting legal representation and people being kept on remand for too long because of the all the different rules between different countries...

when the guy from interpol and gardai spoke they talked of organised crime, paedophilia, and human trafficking, now hopefully more european judicial co-operation will make it easier to tackle the last of these problems but it seemed to me that they were suggesting that aslong as your not a criminal you won't have to worry about all these new laws coming in.... laws rushed through because of terrorism and paedophilia!!!!, but using examples like these to justify these news laws is dangerous as most poeple won't be involved in such things but they will be subject to these laws

i was glad that the series of seminars had the subtitle "human rights begins at home" as it seems to me that when you think of human rights abuses people presume you're talking of far away countries, rather then right here in Ireland. Now of course Ireland is alot freer than most countries but it doesn't mean to say its completely clear of human rights abuses and infact they occur on daily basis, in prisons, protests and police stations.

It was noted that theres seems to be little comeback if someone is arrested wrongly under these laws, imho the arrest first free later policiy we've seen here recently and in London when protestors were arrested in terrorism laws is increasing.... and sure they may be seen to be innocent in court cases held years later but that is of little comfort at the time


there was much more talk of the EAW and the man from interpol spoke well in describing his job simply as one of data collection and providing of this info to local law enforcement...

there were a number of other questions from people re police brutality extradition, recognicing of group rights ie homosexuals rather then just indiviudals, papua new guinea, a garda rep asking if his force will be giving the resources to deal with these new laws

as above there will be series of these seminars according to the leaflet the next may be on Garda Practice and International Human Rights standards.

as this was a week before mayday i was amazed to see the gardai seargent say several times "crime has no borders" is reason fot this laws yes crime has no borders but people do it seems