policy
Justice ministers from five countries issued a statement on Monday to strengthen the cross-border fight against cybercrime. At the meeting in Langenlois (Krems district), the war in Ukraine and the rights of the family and the child were also discussed.
08/05/2023 14.17
Online since today, 14:17
“The great challenges of our time can only be solved together,” said host Alma Zadic (Greens). The ministers of Austria, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and Switzerland, as well as the minister of Germany, unanimously underlined that the challenges in terms of cybercrime – fueled not least by the corona pandemic and the shift of many areas of life towards the digital world – can only be be mastered together could.
Increased cooperation is therefore essential, according to the tenor. Existing cooperations should continue in the future with the involvement of specialized units, such as the newly created competence centers for cybercrime in Austria. Through annual meetings, study trips and the exchange of specialists, greater deepening should occur.
Ukrainian War: “The Greatest Crime of Our Time”
The war in Ukraine was also discussed at the two-day meeting on Sunday and Monday. In this sense, it is about “collecting evidence for future processes”, emphasized Zadic. “Every effort must be made” to “hold war criminals accountable”. German Justice Minister Marco Buschmann, who sees the war in Ukraine as “the greatest crime of our time”, sounded a similar trumpet.
In this context, the creation of a special court for the crime of aggression was specifically discussed. Currently, the International Criminal Court can only punish three of the four core Rome Statute crimes (war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide) committed on Ukrainian territory. With regard to aggression, a criminal responsibility gap has been identified that needs to be filled.
Maintenance guarantee is “Urgently about time”
Zadic had an intense exchange with his colleagues on the topic of family and child law. A reform of the latter is being politically coordinated in Austria. Among other things, strengthening of children’s rights is to come, including a state maintenance guarantee, improved protection against violence and a speeding up of custody and maintenance procedures. Above all, the implementation of the long-required maintenance guarantee is “urgently on time”, emphasized Zadic.
Swiss Justice Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider, her Liechtenstein counterpart Graziella Marok-Wachter and Luxembourg Justice Minister Sam Tanson also attended the annual meeting. Tanson’s home country will host next year’s meeting.