South East Asia
Justice Network
SEAJust
An Informal Judicial Cooperation Network providing
Central Authorities in South East Asia with
technical support in Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA)
About Us
GPTOC presently supports the functioning of four judicial cooperation networks. These include the Judicial Cooperation Network of Central Asia and Southern Caucasus (CASC), the West African Network of Central Authorities and Prosecutors (WACAP), the Great Lakes Judicial Cooperation Network (GLJC) and most recently, the South East Asia Justice (SEAJust) Network.
These networks are based upon the model and working methods of the European Judicial Network (EJN), providing a framework to promote expeditious execution of Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) requests for all forms of serious and organized crime. Work is carried out through formally appointed contact points who serve as “active intermediaries” to facilitate international cooperation in criminal matters with competent authorities of other networks or countries, if requested.
In addition to the case work carried out by contact points, these networks may convene or establish working groups on specific thematic issues on a temporary or a permanent basis, and may also facilitate training sessions, as well as the development and dissemination of practical tools and guides on international cooperation in criminal matters through the networks’ regional meetings and capacity building activities.
In 2019, with funding from the Government of Japan, the GPTOC, together with the UNODC Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific (ROSEAP), undertook an initiative to support the establishment of this judicial cooperation network, currently covering 12 countries in Southeast Asia: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Viet Nam.
Who We Are
The SEAJust is a UNODC initiative implemented with the informal support of the Secretariat for the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters among Like-Minded ASEAN Member Countries (ASEAN MLAT Secretariat).
The network's main purpose is to facilitate the work of central and competent authorities and prosecutors and strengthen international cooperation in criminal matters within and outside of the South East Asian region.
The SEAJust membership is open to all South East Asian states as well as other states or territories.
Present members of the network include Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Viet Nam.
What We Do
Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA)
International cooperation in criminal matters includes, among others, Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA); a process by which States seek and provide assistance in obtaining evidence and information for use in criminal cases, and extradition, which is the formal process whereby a State requests the enforced return of a person accused or convicted of a crime to stand trial or serve a sentence in the requesting State.
READ MOREEnhanced cooperation among international judicial cooperation networks
As of October 2020, the SEAJust network had already facilitated 20 pending MLA cases, including with countries outside the region (like Uzbekistan, with the operational support of the CASC network). The SEAJust Network aims to conduct more tailored training on relevant thematic topics upon the requests of the member countries, including asset freezing/recovery and cybercrime in the context of MLA.
READ MOREThe Global Programme for Strengthening Capacities of Member States to Prevent and Combat Organized and Serious Crime (GPTOC)
The Global Programme for Strengthening Capacities of Member States to Prevent and Combat Organized and Serious Crime (GPTOC) provides technical assistance to Member States to effectively implement the Organized Crime Convention in order to deal with different forms of serious and organized crime. Access the Global Programmes Website here:
READ MOREGPTOC 2020 Annual Report
With the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic, UNODC's fight against transnational organized crime faced truly unprecedented, inconceivable challenges in 2020. Contrary to what was originally predicted, the movement of supplies and illegal goods -drugs, chemical precursors, illegal substances, sub-standard and falsified medical products, wildlife and fisheries crimes, weapons, explosives, etc., has not experienced a palpable decline, even despite the apparent limitations resulting from the ongoing pandemic.
READ MOREOVERARCHING LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK
International judicial cooperation finds its foundation, on the one hand, in the global fight against organized crime, with States identifying cooperation avenues, thus aiming at preventing transnational impunity, as well as ensuring that bilateral relations fully observe the principle of shared accountability in terms of legal and procedural guarantees.
READ MOREUNODC's REGIONAL JUDICIAL COOPERATION NETWORKS ACROSS THE GLOBE
GPTOC is a global facilitator for International Cooperation in Criminal Matters and supports four Judicial Cooperation Networks worldwide. Learn more about the tireless work being carried out by our regional networks with global influence areas.
READ MORETECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
The most frequent problem faced by judicial or law enforcement agencies in cooperating with counterparts in other countries is the slowness of formal procedures in the response time from the requested State. UNODC's Regional Judicial Cooperation Networks have established collaboration avenues, which are meant to facilitate technical assistance in these matters, and expedite corresponding administrative and judicial process relating to Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA).
READ MOREInternational judicial cooperation networks
Latest News & DEVELOPMENTS
สำนักงานอัยการสูงสุดจัดกิจกรรมครบรอบ 20 ปีกระชับความสัมพันธ์ทางการทูตระหว่างประเทศ
ผู้สื่อข่าวรายงานว่า เมื่อวันที่ 26 พฤศจิกายน 2563 ที่ผ่านมา สำนักงานอัยการสูงสุดร่วมกับเครือข่ายความร่วมมือทางกฎหมายในภูมิภาคเอเชียตะวันออกเฉียงใต้ (SEAJust) สำนักงานว่าด้วยยาเสพติดและอาชญากรรมแห่งสหประชาชาติ (UNODC) จัดกิจกรรมฉลองรำลึกครบรอบ 20 ปีของอนุสัญญาสหประชาชาติ เพื่อต่อต้านอาชญากรรมข้ามชาติที่จัดตั้งในลักษณะองค์กร (UNTOC) ซึ่งเป็นสนธิสัญญาพหุภาคีหลักที่นานาชาติใช้เป็นเครื่องมือในการต่อสู้กับองค์กรอาชญากรรมข้ามชาติ
Read MoreAdvancing International Law Enforcement and Judicial Cooperation to Combat Trafficking in Persons in Central and Southeast Asia
In a context where many people have faced the loss of income due to the economic slowdown associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, vulnerability to exploitation remains relatively high in the Central Asia region. COVID-19 has impacted the capacity of state authorities and non-governmental organizations to provide essential services to victims of human trafficking.
Read MoreSouth East Asia Regional Meeting on Mutual Legal Assistance
The South East Asia Justice (SEAJust) Network conducted the Regional Meeting on Mutual Legal Assistance on 9-10 September 2020 through videoconferencing. The Meeting was participated by Member Countries of the South East Asia Justice (SEAJust) Network except for Brunei Darussalam, and the central authorities of Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, the relevant officials from Japan as the donor, officials from the secretariat of several international judicial cooperation networks, and numerous experts from UNODC.
Read MoreGPTOC Bi-Monthly Flash Report
Global Programme for Strengthening the Capacities of Member States to Prevent and Combat Transnational Organized & Serious Crimes (GPTOC) The GPTOC programme assists Member States to implement the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) more effectively, in line with international human rights standards.
Read MoreUNODC-ISS MULTIMEDIA NEWSLETTER
We are pleased to present the first issue of the UNODC-ISS Multimedia Newsletter! This newly created resource aims at effectively reaching out to our key audiences with updated information, news and stories of interest in the area of Transnational Organised Crime, with a particular focus on the strategic objectives entrusted to our Global Programmes.
Read MoreMULTIMEDIA GALLERY
SUB-PAGE CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION ____________________________________ PHOTOS - VIDEO MATERIAL - PODCAST / VODCAST - EXTERNAL RESOURCES - UNODC ADVOCACY
Read MoreSEAJUST COUNTRIES IN ACTION
Take a look at actions carried out by Central Judicial Authorities in coordination with the SEAJust Secretariat in each of the participating countries. This section includes information on individual initiatives of each Member State, as well as success stories in the implementation of MLA procedures throughout the ASEAN region.
Read MoreSEAJUST CENTRAL AUTHORITIES: key contacts
SEAJUST CONTACT POINT LIST
PASSWORD-RESTRICTED! Click here to access our updated list of relevant contact in South East Asia - Make sure to remember this password!
SEAJUST CENTRAL AUTHORITIES DIRECTORY
PASSWORD RESTRICTED! Download the document to get access to key contact details from each of our network's Member States' Central Judicial Authorities. Make sure to remember this password!
Relevant Tools & Resources
A key component for judicial cooperation is a country’s ability to cooperate effectively with its neighbors, as well as with regional and international partners. Many Member States indicated that their legislation enabled them to conclude bilateral or multilateral agreements for extradition and mutual legal assistance and illicit traffic by sea.
MORE INFORMATION
A key component for judicial cooperation is a country’s ability to cooperate effectively with its neighbors, as well as with regional and international partners. Many Member States indicated that their legislation enabled them to conclude bilateral or multilateral agreements for extradition and mutual legal assistance and illicit traffic by sea.
MORE INFORMATION
A key component for judicial cooperation is a country’s ability to cooperate effectively with its neighbors, as well as with regional and international partners. Many Member States indicated that their legislation enabled them to conclude bilateral or multilateral agreements for extradition and mutual legal assistance and illicit traffic by sea.
MORE INFORMATION
The EJN Compendium gives support for drafting requests for judicial cooperation. It guides the practitioners through the form used for the request, ensuring that all required information is inserted. The Compendium also helps the practitioner to manage translations of requests; in most cases the request needs to be translated into a language accepted by the requested Member State in order for that Member State to be able to receive and execute the request.
MORE INFORMATIONUPCOMING EVENTS
First SEAJust Network Plenary Meeting, 9-10 February, 2021 (Day One) - Bangkok Time (GMT +7)
Meeting Inauguration
Mr. Sunn Linn, Director of Legal Advice Department Union Attorney General’s Office of Myanmar.
Moderator: Ms. Kaori Matsumoto, UNODC.
Discussion on new memberships / entitlements for members from outside of the region (voting mechanisms / voting rights) Observer Status.
Moderator: Ms. Kaori Matsumoto UNODC.
Moderator: Ms. Kaori Matsumoto, UNODC
First SEAJust Network Plenary Meeting, 9-10 February, 2021 (Day Two) - Bangkok Time (GMT +7)
Deciding on new activities with SEAJust ownership - Classification of activities (core activities / training opportunities) - Moderator: Ms. Kaori Matsumoto (UNODC)
Plenary discussion & contributions.
Presentation by Mr. Wolfgang Friedl, Communication Consultant, UNODC
Mr. Francesco Checchi, Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer, UNODC Bangkok
Explanation of SEAJust launch event at Kyoto Crime Congress (March 2020) / Wrap Up -
SEAJUST REGIONAL MEETINGS & PAST EVENTS
2nd MLA Meeting_4-7 February 2020
1st MLA Meeting: 15-17 October 2019
Contact US
- Bangkok, Thailand
SEAJust Network Ms. Kaori Matsumoto SEAJust Focal Point Programme Coordinator, UNODC Regional Office for Southeast Asia & the Pacific kaori.matsumoto@un.org Twitter: @utaori0103
