The use of video conferencing in criminal proceedings

Online meetings, webinars, video conferences … the pandemic has promoted the use of the Internet in various professional sectors. Also in the legal field, it has been necessary to adapt to the new situation created by the health crisis. In this scenario, the ICRIME project is working to improve international legal cooperation and the regulatory framework regarding the investigation and prosecution of crimes in the member countries of the Central American Integration System (SICA). Magistrates, judges, prosecutors and investigators, as well as representatives of the Ministries of Justice and the Interior of the SICA member countries have met to analyse the use of video conferences in criminal proceedings, as a means of international cooperation in this matter.  

Under the title “Specialised training activity, with a particular focus on Video conferencing, and reference to the COMJIB Ibero-American Convention on video conferencing”, legal professionals Margarita Avellá and Antonio Evaristo Gudin, analysed the situation and the use of video conferences in the Central American environment, a tool that is currently used in all Ibero-American countries to respond to the need to collaborate in the fight against organised crime.  

This training activity is part of the actions included in the ICRIME project, which seeks to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of criminal justice systems in the prosecution of transnational crimes and drug trafficking. The webinar also addressed the Ibero-American Convention on the use of video conferencing and the relationship of the Convention with national and international rights.  

This activity on the use of video conferencing in criminal proceedings is part of the actions included in Result 2, which is carried out by the consortium formed by the FIIAPP, a Spanish agency, and the French agency Expertise France, and aims to improve the regulatory framework and the institutional strengthening of the capacities of the judicial cooperation units.   

The project carried out by FIIAPP includes, on the one hand, the improvement of forensic medicine laboratories and, on the other, the improvement of police, judicial and fiscal investigation.  

ICRIME is funded by the European Union and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).