NCJ Number
138100
Journal
Criminal Law Forum Volume: 3 Issue: 1 Dated: (Autumn 1991) Pages: 49-53
Date Published
1991
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article summarizes the content of major presentations and workshop sessions at the "International Workshop on Principles and Procedures for a New Transnational Criminal Law," held in Freiburg, Germany, on May 21-24, 1991.
Abstract
The opening address by Dr. Walter Odersky, Chief Justice of Germany, identified the practical problems faced by a reunited Germany as it attempts to harmonize two bodies of criminal law. Session I examined the dynamics of national criminal law in competition on the international level, with attention to North American and African jurisdictions. Questions were raised about the extraterritorial aspects of national law and the need to harmonize them. Session II examined European, African, and other bilateral or multilateral instruments and arrangements that currently form the basis for international cooperation. Session III addressed the development of supranational crimes and courts, both regional and global. There were presentations on potential conflicts between the world community as international lawmaker and national legislatures, as well as conflicts between supranational or regional courts and national courts. Papers were presented on the preparation of regional criminal laws in the form of legal conventions and models of criminal justice. Session IV considered human rights as the "third dimension" in international criminal law. It was clear from the discussions that agreement on a common set of principles grounded in both international and national human rights instruments is essential before significant progress can be made. The working group appointed to prepare a final report on the workshop suggested that the time may be right to consider the creation of a new international agency within the United Nations to coordinate an expanded and strengthened program of crime prevention and criminal justice. The titles of papers and notes presented, along with their authors, are listed.