Raad van Europa adopteert conventies voor bestrijding van terrorisme, criminaliteit en mensenhandel (en)

Strasbourg, 03.05.2005 - The Council of Europe Committee of Ministers today adopted three major conventions concerning the fights against terrorism and trafficking in human beings. These three treaties will be opened for signature by Council of Europe member states at the Summit of Heads of State and Government to be held in Warsaw on 16 and 17 May 2005. The convention texts will soon be available on www.coe.int

Council of Europe Convention on the prevention of terrorism

The Council of Europe has adopted this new convention to increase the effectiveness of existing international texts on the fight against terrorism. It aims to strengthen member states' efforts to prevent terrorism and sets out two ways to achieve this objective :

• - 

  by establishing as criminal offences certain acts that may lead to the commission of terrorist offences, namely: public provocation, recruitment and training
• - 

  by reinforcing co-operation on prevention both internally (national prevention policies), and internationally (modification of existing extradition and mutual assistance arrangements and additional means).

The convention contains a provision on the protection and compensation of victims of terrorism. A consultation process is planned to ensure effective implementation and follow up.

Council of Europe Convention on laundering, search, seizure and confiscation of the proceeds from crime and on the financing of terrorism

The Council of Europe decided to update and widen its 1990 convention to take into account the fact that not only could terrorism be financed through money laundering from criminal activity, but also through legitimate activities.

This new convention is the first international treaty covering both the prevention and the control of money laundering and the financing of terrorism. The text addresses the fact that quick access to financial information or information on assets held by criminal organisations, including terrorist groups, is the key to successful preventive and repressive measures, and, ultimately, is the best way to stop them.

The convention includes a mechanism to ensure the proper implementation by parties of its provisions.

Council of Europe Convention on action against trafficking in human beings

The aim of this convention is to prevent and combat the trafficking in human beings in all its forms, namely national or international, whether or not it is linked with organised crime.

A first fundamental principle outlined in detail in the new convention is that the protection and promotion of the rights of the victims shall be secured without discrimination on any ground such as sex, race, colour, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, association with a national minority, property, birth or other status.

The main added value of this convention is its human rights perspective, its focus on victim protection and its independent monitoring mechanism guaranteeing parties' compliance with its provisions.

Press Contact

Council of Europe Press Division

Tel. +33 3 88 41 25 60  - Fax. +33 3 88 41 39 11

E-mail: PressUnit@coe.int