JUSTICE, FREEDOM AND SECURITY > ISRAEL
A common legal space n People attending the Council of Europe Conventions Information Seminar at the Israeli Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem
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The threats to which our societies are confronted do not stop at Europe’s borders: trafficking in human beings, stealing of personal data, money laundering, terrorism etc. are a menace to everyday life in many countries of the world. Both the Council of Europe and the European Union share the same objective, namely to promote democratic values and principles, as well as the respect for human dignity. A 4.8 million € programme funded by the European Union and implemented by the Council of Europe, entitled "Strengthening democratic reform in the southern Neighbourhood" (South Programme), was launched in January 2012. Israel has already signed several European Council Conventions, and is now interested in discussing the accession to other ones. During a seminar organised within the framework of the programme by the Council of Europe – and attended by representatives from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and of line Ministries - experts of Israel have exchanged views with European experts regarding the content of EU Conventions in key areas like trafficking in human beings, combating violence against women and children, personal data protection and fight against money laundering and terrorism. A journalist from the EU Neighbourhood Info Centre has attended the event, and sends us this report. Text by: Marc Weiss Photos by: AFP © EU/Neighbourhood Info Centre This publication does not represent the official view of the EC or the EU institutions. The EC accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to its content.
JERUSALEM – "The threats to which our societies are confronted do not stop at Europe’s borders. Today, we all face common threats - common transnational challenges. " This is Pilar Morales, from the Council of Europe. She speaks like this at the time where the Knesset, the Israel's parliament, has initiated a process to ratify the Council of Europe (CoE) Convention on Cybercrime, one EU Neighbourhood Info Centre of more than 150 Council conventions that are open to non-member states. Israel has already ratified nine conventions and signed another, and has Feature no. 133 extensive ties with the Council of Europe. Israel has observer status at the This is a series of features on projects Council of Europe’s parliamentary assembly and has shown interest in funded by the EU, prepared by furthering its co-operation by signing on to additional conventions. With journalists and photographers on the this in mind, a 2-day seminar is held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in ground or the EU Neighbourhood Jerusalem, within the framework of the South Programme, a € 4.8 million Info Centre. initiative funded by the European Union and implemented by the CoE. At the Jerusalem gathering, details of specific conventions are outlined and © 2014 EU/Neighbourhood Info Centre European and Israeli experts exchange views on a number of issues of
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“These are real problems faced by our societies to which we need global responses. And here, creating a common legal space takes its full sense".
n The Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings
is one of the conventions Israel is considering signing on to
particular interest to Israel. Ms Pilar Morales, from the CoE's Directorate General of Programmes office, explaines that the Jerusalem seminar focuses on conventions and their legal provisions, but also allows debate on topical issues, such as violence against women and children, medicrime (falsification of medical products and devises), corruption, and human trafficking. "These are real problems faced by our societies – she says - to which we need global responses. And here, creating a common legal space takes its full sense". A set of legal tools A country which ratifies a convention takes on certain obligations enshrined in the specific treaty and also benefits from a wider network of global experts who meet regularly to tackle emerging issues. Ms Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni, Deputy Secretary -General of the CoE, explains that Europe and Israel already share common values, such as a commitment to democracy, human rights and the rule of law. "Israel is an important partner for Europe and the more we facilitate its entrance into the European space, the easier Israeli co-operation with Europe will be, the partnership will be intensified and Israel will feel less isolated." She says the CoE conventions are a unique opportunity to fill an existing legal gap. "The treaties we are presenting correspond to issues that have not yet been dealt with by the United Nations. The conventions provide Israel with a set of legal tools that do not exist elsewhere."
n Ehud Keinan, Deputy Director General and Legal Adviser of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni, the Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe
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Pilar Morales of the Council of Europe
Trafficking in human beings The Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, which entered into force in February 2008, is one of the conventions Israel is considering signing on to. The Convention aims to prevent trafficking in human beings, protect victims of trafficking, prosecute traffickers and promote coordination of national actions and international co-operation. In common with most of the world, Israel also suffers from trafficking; men and women are brought into the country for forced labour and commercial sexual exploitation. Some low-skilled workers, mainly from third-world countries and Eastern Europe, migrate voluntarily for contract labour in the construction, agriculture, and health care industries. Some, however, subsequently face conditions of forced labour, such as unlawful withholding of passports, restrictions on movement, non-payment of wages, threats, and physical intimidation. However, Israel is working to tackle the problem. The government has increased the number of convictions for sex trafficking offenses and conducted a campaign to prevent forced labour. Israel also continues to provide victims of sex trafficking with shelter, legal aid and protection assistance- all obligations that are required of states signing up to the CoE convention. Mr Ehud Keinan, deputy Director- General and legal adviser at Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, says the Jerusalem seminar expresses Israel's desire to co-operate with like-minded European states. "The CoE conventions are taking over a process previously utilised by the United Nations of creating multi-lateral legal n The South Programme is a € 4.8 million initiative funded by frameworks which widen co-operation between the European Union and implemented by the Council of Europe
"The treaties we are presenting correspond to issues that have not yet been dealt with by the United Nations. The conventions provide Israel with a set of legal tools that do not exist elsewhere."
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“The ratification process takes time (…) but it brings Israel closer to the European Union and EU values, and we think this is where we belong; in a closer relationship with like-minded countries”. states on many levels. The ratification process takes time and requires agreement of various domestic agencies, a budget and sometimes even legislation. But it brings Israel closer to the European Union and EU values, and we think this is where we belong; in a closer relationship with like-minded countries." Actions against Medcrime Medicrime –the counterfeiting of medical productsis a relatively new global problem. The CoE drafted n Israel has observer status at the Council of Europe’s parliamentary assembly a convention in 2011, signed by Israel, which constituted, for the first time, a binding international instrument in the criminal law field on counterfeiting of medical products involving threats to public health. Counterfeiting of medical products and similar crimes has a global spread and no country is spared: an example in Israel occurred earlier this year, when thousands of people were duped into buying fake Viagra pills. The CoE sees it as a common responsibility for the global community to eradicate this phenomenon, and hence, accession to the Medicrime Convention is open for all states interested in working with the Council on this important goal. The Convention aims to safeguard public health through penal measures against criminals manufacturing, selling and distributing the false drugs, while protecting victims and promoting co-operation at national and international levels. The CoE also has a number of conventions aimed at protecting the rights of children, which Israel is considering signing. The conventions aim to eliminate all forms of violence against children, promote child-friendly services and systems, guarantee the rights of children in vulnerable situations and promote child participation. During the Jerusalem seminar, Israeli experts in many and varied fields have raised questions that have a particular resonance to the Israeli reality. The answers they received from their European counterparts will help Israel join with the CoE in creating a common legal space.
Strengthening democratic reform in the southern Neighbourhood http://south-programme-eu.coe.int/Default_en.asp Launched in January 2012, this 3-year programme aims to accompany democratic and political reforms in the Southern Mediterranean countries, following a demand driven and targeted approach. Objectives: 1. To enhance efficiency and independence of the judiciary by improving Courts' performance and by facilitating judicial reform, using as a reference relevant Council of Europe standards. 2. To promote good governance through increased prevention of corruption and money laundering on the basis of the relevant Council of Europe standards, mechanisms and instruments 3. To strengthen and protect human rights, in particular through the prevention and control of trafficking in human beings in line with the provisions of the Council of Europe Convention 4. To promote democratic values in the region, building on Council of Europe existing networks To find out more The Council of Europe: website http://www.coe.int/en/web/about-us/who-we-are
EU Neighbourhood Info Centre thematic portal: JUSTICE, FREEDOM AND SECURITY http://www.enpi-info.eu/thememed.php?subject=1
Seminar on Council of Europe Conventions in Jerusalem http://south-programme-eu.coe.int/news_en.asp
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