Judicial cooperation : genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, European network. Initiative Netherlands

PURPOSE : to present an initiative from Netherlands with a view to the adoption of a Council Decision setting up a European network of contact points in respect of persons responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. CONTENT : the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court of 17 July 1998 affirms that the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole, in particular genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, must not go unpunished and that their effective prosecution must be ensured by taking measures at the national level and by enhancing international cooperation. This proposal states that each Member State shall designate a contact point for the investigation of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Each contact point's primary task shall be to collect and manage information on the aforementioned crimes in the framework of their investigation. Member States shall ensure that contact points exchange, spontaneously or on requests, any available information that may be relevant to the investigation of such crimes, in accordance with their national powers. Each request made under this Decision shall be accompanied by a brief statement of the relevant facts known to the requesting contact point. The contact point shall specify in the requests how the information sought will be used. �