This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Commonwealth Law Ministers meet in Ghana
17/10/2005
As part of an ongoing programme of international co-operation, Lord Advocate Colin Boyd QC, senior Law Officer in Scotland and Executive Minister, will today meet with Law Ministers from across the Commonwealth in Accra in Ghana.
Ghana will host the Commonwealth Law Ministers meeting from 17-20 October 2005. Ministers and representatives from across the 53-nation Commonwealth will discuss progress on international legal cooperation, share their experiences and propose new solutions for consideration by Heads of Government.
Colin Boyd said:
"I am pleased to have the opportunity to represent Scotland at the Commonwealth Law Ministers conference and to be able to discuss with other Ministers matters of mutual interest.
"Recent terrorist atrocities have made absolutely clear the need for a continued co-ordinated approach to securing the effective prosecution of international terrorists.
"In Scotland, we have witnessed notable successes for our own Civil Recovery programme. In the past two years the Civil Recovery Unit has successfully recovered £1,037,919 through the civil courts.
"The meeting will also focus on international co-operation to combat serious crime, juvenile justice and a range of other legal issues. This forum not only allows us to make a valuable contribution to international law and practices but also to learn from best practice elsewhere.
"Scotland is rightly proud of having one of the best legal systems in the world, but we must be outward looking to learn from, and contribute to, developments in international and domestic law."
More information about the Commonwealth can be found at www.thecommonwealth.org
Discussions will include legal issues relating to:
- Civil Recovery of Criminal Assets and Terrorist Property
- International Humanitarian Law
- Good Practice in Juvenile Justice Policy
- Justice and Good Governance Issues
- Legal Development Issues