Project Title: Digital Rights – Applying EU directives on procedural rights in the context of trials regarding cybercrimes, the use of e-evidences and investigative digital forensics
Donor: European Commission (DG for Justice and Consumer affairs)
Coordinator: Court of Appeal of Venice
Partners: European Public Law Organisation, Fondazione Agenfor International, Unione Camere Penali Italiane, Institut Européen de l'Expertise et de l'Expert, Ηochschule Für Öffentliche Verwaltung.
Project starting date: 01/11/2024
Project duration: 24 months
Countries: Greece, Italy, France, Germany
The project’s overall objective is to enhance the implementation of the EU Directives on procedural rights for suspects and accused individuals involved in criminal proceedings, , focusing on (1) accusations related to crimes under the Budapest Convention, and (2) other crimes where digital evidence and forensic investigations are central to prosecution and trial actions.
The project specifically aims to i) study the transposition of the EU Directives into the national legislative framework of the partner countries and to identify any gaps and inconsistencies regrading the implementation of the Budapest Convention and the use of digital forensics, ii) assess any risks for the procedural rights of suspected or accused persons in criminal proceedings coming caused by the practical aspects of the EU Directives, iii) develop guidelines regarding the safeguarding of the rights of the victims to access to information, to legal aid, to the protection of their digital rights and personal data during trial proceedings and iv) to provide capacity building activities to practitioners and policy makers in regard to the above objectives.
ACTIVITIES
- Legislative Review and Analysis:
- In-depth review of the application of the key EU directives on procedural rights in the partner countries
- Mapping of Stakeholders
- identification of experts, academics, key practitioners and policymakers in order to build a solid network of individual relevant national stakeholders.
- Communities of Practice
- Organization of capacity building activities to the network of stakeholders
- Development of a Risk Assessment and Mitigation Plan in the implementation of the relevant EU Directives
- Development of guidelines on legislative implementation of the relevant EU Directives
- Knowledge Building for Practitioners and Policymakers
- Organization of public conferences on Risk Assessment & Mitigation Plan for practitioners.
- Organization of closed-door panels on Soft Guidelines for policymakers.
- Communication and Dissemination Activities
- Development of a communication strategy, dissemination of project’s outputs, visibility activities and stakeholder engagement