On the twentieth anniversary of the founding of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Member States striving to make the Organization’s space a region of peace, cooperation, sustainable development, prosperity and harmony; on the outcome of the meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State held in Dushanbe on 17 September 2021, state the following articles have legal takeaways:
A. Security
To improve the mechanisms for countering security challenges and threats, the SCO Member States are considering the following initiatives:
The establishment of the SCO Counter-Terrorism Centre in Dushanbe as a separate permanent body (Republic of Tajikistan), the establishment of the SCO Universal Centre to Counter Challenges and Threats to Security within the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) in Tashkent (Russian Federation), the establishment of the SCO Information Security Centre (Kazakhstan) and the SCO Center against International Organized Crime (Kyrgyzstan).
B. International information security
Member States underscore that modern information and communication technologies (ICTs) bring new advantages and opportunities for the development of all humanity. They oppose discriminatory measures, under any pretext, that hinder the development of the digital economy and communication technologies.
Member States note with serious concern the growing threats to information security, including the criminal misuse of information and communication technologies, which have reached global and transnational dimensions and are destabilizing international peace and security. Combating them requires joint efforts and broad international cooperation.
The Member States reiterate the key role of the United Nations in countering threats in the information space. They support the development of universal rules, principles and norms of responsible behavior of states in this area, including welcoming the launch of a comprehensive international convention on combating the use of ICTs for criminal purposes under the auspices of the UN. Member States will continue to cooperate in the relevant negotiation mechanisms at the UN and other international fora.
They advocate equal rights for all countries to regulate the Internet and the sovereign right of states to manage it in their national segment.
C. Judicial Cooperation
The member states note that fruitful cooperation through the Heads of Supreme Courts is a reliable platform for improving joint activities in protecting human rights and freedoms, strengthening justice, the rule of law and the rule of law. This mechanism serves to harmonise approaches in the work of courts of SCO member states, improve the efficiency of inter-judicial cooperation and create conditions for deepening judicial reforms.
They will enhance information exchange and concerted action in the forensic field, including joint activities.
The Member States attach importance to cooperation between Supreme Courts in the field of justice as an effective factor in strengthening mutual trust and friendship, development of good-neighbourliness within the SCO.
D. Cooperation between Prosecutor Generals
Member States expressed their willingness to broaden the channels of legal cooperation, increase its efficiency and promote direct cooperation between Prosecutor Generals.
They will seek to establish a mechanism for the reliable and rapid exchange of legal information on the legislative, legal and judicial oversight practices existing in SCO member states, as well as on anti-crime issues and any other information relevant to countering illicit activities of a transnational nature.
Member States will strengthen multilateral exchange between Prosecutor Generals in the field of research, learning from positive experiences in prosecutorial work, and improve training programmes aimed at enhancing the skills of Prosecutors in SCO Member States.
E. Cooperation in the field of justice
The member states stressed that the establishment of the rule of law based on the principles of respect, protection and promotion of human rights in all spheres of social, political, economic life is an important factor for stability, sustainability and successful development of the SCO Member States.
They are in favour of developing cooperation on the exchange of experience in the area of legislation, legal assistance and legal education, as well as of continuing efforts to create an online platform for the exchange of legal information, taking into account the provisions of national legislation.
image: Agora Portal
