I sincerely wish all the participants of the Conference fruitful endeavor, interesting discussion and new ideas.
| Yours sincerely, | Viktor Yushchenko President of Ukraine |
FROM THE CHAIRMAN of THE PARLIAMENT of UKRAINE
To organisers, participants and guests of the Fourteenth Annual Conference and General Meeting of
the International Association of Prosecutors
I offer my heartfelt greetings and welcome to Kyiv for this great event, committed to further promote professional and official contacts between prosecutors from all over the world.
It is remarkable that such a significant forum is taking place in Ukraine which is eager to study and implement the best international practice in setting up a modern prosecution service model. This aspiration is based upon our recognition that we can only establish a civilized and just state in this country, if there is firm law and order and strict adherence to the Constitutional provisions and the Rule of Law, by all the branches of the state, as well as by those engaged in business and economic activity.
The work of the prosecution service must match the requirements of the present day, especially at this difficult time, not only in Ukraine but also for the world community, given the new economic and social realities. The functional role of the prosecution service is growing considerably, accordingly the social expectations for its effectiveness have also grown.
No system of criminal justice can succeed without a fair and effective prosecution service. However the public prosecution function must be constantly scrutinised by society in order to maximise the prospects of a successful outcome. The public prosecution service is empowered to prevent breaches of law in criminal procedure and champion the legal rights and freedoms of the state and its citizens according to the standards of today. In order to ensure justice, it is necessary to perform the difficult task of balancing the rights of a person against the needs of society.
I am convinced that this Conference organised under the aegis of the International Association of Prosecutors, will offer countless opportunities to explore and discuss different aspects of many emerging issues and challenges which currently face prosecutors all over the world. It will also provide an opportunity to think critically about the effectiveness of the global criminal justice system in achieving fairness and impartial justice for all.
I sincerely wish all the participants of the Conference fruitful endeavor, interesting discussion and new ideas.
| Yours sincerely, | Volodymyr Lytvyn Chairman of the Parliament of Ukraine |
FROM THE PROSECUTOR GENERAL OF UKRAINE
Dear colleagues,
It is a great pleasure to invite you to take part in the 14th Annual Conference and General Meeting of the International Association of Prosecutors to be held on 6-10 September in Kyiv.
The theme of the Conference: “Successful Prosecutions; Achieving Just Outcomes” is very topical and relevant for the present day prosecutor. It is obvious nowadays that the main purpose of prosecution service activity is not only to punish an offender, but to protect human rights and freedoms and to reinforce the principle of impartial justice.
We should take into consideration that a mere conviction of a person who has committed a crime will not always meet the needs of that person and of society as a whole. The modern community requires the more frequent use of new alternatives to trial and punishment (civil remedies, reparation, restitution of victims’ rights, recovery of proceeds of crime, reimbursement, etc).
However, the essential nature of the judicial process should not be lost, provided that justice can be delivered within a reasonable time: court decisions should be swift and just.
Bearing this in mind, the prosecutor’s decision making role is becoming increasingly significant, particularly in the defence and support of the infringed rights and interests of those who are unable to protect themselves, ensuring that the rules of criminal procedure are observed when acquiring evidence with the aim of promoting an overall sense of justice.
I am sure this International Conference will afford all its participants the opportunity to gather and exchange experiences of different legal systems and national practices in order to devise criteria for measuring successful achievements in prosecution activity. One outcome may be draft legislation introducing changes which would enable prosecutors to more readily discharge their responsibilities and perform their tasks.
The capital of Ukraine - ancient Kyiv – has been chosenas the venue for the 14th Annual Conference and General Meeting of the International Association of Prosecutors. Kyiv is not only a beautiful and green city, but is also the cultural and spiritual shrine of the Ukrainian nation, dating back a thousand years to Kyiv Rus. I believe that the magic and beauty of this ancient city with its historical architecture and monuments together with the sincere hospitality of its inhabitants will not leave you unmoved.
On behalf of all Ukrainian prosecutors I wish you constructive work, productive ideas and enjoyable memories. | Yours sincerely, | Oleksandr Medvedko Prosecutor General of Ukraine |
FROM THE IAP PRESIDENT
Dear colleagues,
The International Association of Prosecutors owes a great debt of gratitude to the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine and to the Ukrainian Association of Prosecutors, not only for hosting what promises to be yet another excellent annual conference this year, but also for hosting 3 regional conferences for prosecutors from Eastern and Central Europe and Central Asia in the past 3 years.
We know from their track record that the organisation and hospitality will be impeccable and that the sentiments of the Conference theme “Successful Prosecutions; Achieving Just Outcomes”, could equally be applied to our expectations in respect of the conference itself.
Traditional methods of dealing with those who transgress are becoming outmoded, not least trial and punishment which can be slow, laborious and costly. The current economic climate may place even greater demands for swifter, more effective and economically efficient ways of bringing offenders to justice. How do we measure effectiveness? What are the success factors? Is this justice on the cheap? Can we continue to safeguard the rights of the accused and victims through these alternative solutions and our continued efforts to win success?
These and other questions will be explored and debated by participants from all over the world.
Furthermore in recognition of the fact that 2009 marks the 20th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (United Nations General Assembly resolution 44/25), there will be a workshop dedicated to new forms of justice for juvenile offenders.
Delegates will also have the opportunity of visiting and exploring a fascinating and remarkable city, steeped in history.
How can you resist such a prospect?
Come, enjoy and be amazed.
| | François Falletti President of the International Association of Prosecutors |
To participants and organisers of the