International Criminal Police Organization

INTERPOL, short for the International Criminal Police Organization, is the world’s largest international police organization, with 196 member countries. Founded in 1923, its mission is to support law enforcement agencies around the world in combating transnational crime through enhanced cooperation, information sharing, and coordinated operations. INTERPOL’s work with the United Nations focuses on five main priorities: counter-terrorism, transnational organized crime, corruption and fraud, narcotics trafficking, criminal prevention and justice, and cybercrime.

The Red Notice system is an international alert for law enforcement agencies globally, to notify member states that another member state is searching for a wanted individual for extradition or legal action. The system was created to prevent criminals or terrorists who committed violent crimes from escaping justice by fleeing to other countries. However, several Interpol members have abused the Red Notice system by attempting to arrest journalists, protestors, or high profile individuals who disagree with the government. Essentially some countries violate the intent of a Red Notice by instead trying to use it as an enforcement tool to prevent or acquire information on individuals who spoke out against a government. Because of this major issue with Red Notices, it is clear that member states need to cooperate in an attempt to reform the current system.

1. How can sovereignty be protected while making a Red Notice more enforceable?

2. Is it possible to implement some form of oversight to prevent Red Notice abuses? 

3. Who should oversee Red Notices and how would the overseer remain impartial in determining the validity of Red Notices?

Global: Misuse of Interpol red notices to target dissidents a grave institutional failure | Amnesty International

Revelations on the misuse of Interpol by the world’s most repressive regimes 

INTERPOL’s Red Notices: Human Rights Safeguards for Targeted Individuals

Red Notices | INTERPOL

UN experts concerned by weaponisation of Interpol red notices against human rights defenders from El Salvador

The theft and trafficking of items of great cultural or national significance has become increasingly problematic over the last century. Oftentimes countries suffering from poverty or corruption have seen important national relics plundered and sold to private buyers internationally. In some cases cultural or national relics are legitimately sold and can be confused for these illegally acquired items. Currently the only international definition of stolen cultural property or national relics is any object of great cultural or national significance stolen after 1970. However, an issue is that countries have their own definitions of what qualifies as a stolen relic. Because of this it is incredibly difficult to return stolen cultural or national property after it has left the original nation.

Furthermore, states around the world have also accused several European powers of stealing objects of great national importance or significance. Meanwhile several European nations have argued that many of these objects were legitimately acquired and oftentimes use the UNESCO 1970 deadline as justification for arguing that the object is not considered stolen. It is important that member states of Interpol determine how to prevent the trafficking of cultural property and national relics in the future. It is also equally important that member states articulate a clear international definition of what qualifies a relic as being trafficked.

1. What steps should be taken to limit or prevent the trafficking of cultural property and national relics?

2. Currently only cultural and national relics stolen after 1970 are considered by the international community as illegally acquired. Should objects stolen before 1970 also be included under this definition?

3. How would Interpol ensure legitimate sales of cultural and national relics can take place without allowing illegally also being sold?

The Issues – Cultural Property | INTERPOL

Cultural Property | United Nations

How we fight cultural heritage crime | INTERPOL

Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property

About 1970 Convention | UNESCO

Russia to return looted art, but not to Germany | The Guardian

It’s time for museums to return their stolen treasures

Where do the items in the British Museum come from?