INTERPOL presents e-MLA initiative at UNODC conference

VIENNA, Austria – INTERPOL’s initiative on the secure electronic transmission of mutual legal assistance (e-MLA) exchanges was the focus of a side event in Vienna.

The secure electronic transmission of mutual legal assistance (e-MLA) exchanges was the focus of INTERPOL’s side event in Vienna.

The INTERPOL e-MLA meeting followed the conclusion in September of the project’s first phase to determine its legal feasibility.

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Entitled “e-MLA: a secure network for the electronic transmission of mutual legal assistance requests and responses”, the event followed last month’s conclusion of the project’s first phase to determine the legal feasibility of e-MLA.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 9th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on transnational organized crime (UNTOC).

Its purpose was to update member countries on the progress made by the project which aims to modernize MLA transmissions through expedited and more secure exchanges, raise awareness on its strong potential to facilitate practitioners’ daily work, and invite member countries to join the initiative.

The meeting was organized by INTERPOL with the support of the Austrian and French governments, and was attended by representatives from prosecution services, central authorities and ministries of foreign affairs.

In the coming months the e-MLA team will continue to engage with stakeholders to promote the launch of the second phase of the project and seek their support in developing this important technical platform on facilitating electronic mutual legal assistance.