UNODC and Superior Court of Justice of Brazil ratified cooperation to fight drugs and crime

September 23, 2010 - The president of the Superior Court of Justice (STJ) and of the Council of the Federal Court of Brazil (CJF), Ari Pargendler , received on Wednesday 22, the representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for Brazil and the Southern Cone (UNODC), Bo Mathiasen. The STJ / CJF and UNODC signed in February this year, an agreement of mutual cooperation and exchange of experiences in fighting crime.

The document provides for joint efforts in the development of joint actions to strengthen and punish in different ways transnational organized crime. According to the president of STJ, whatever is in the interest of the United Nations (UN) is of interest to Brazil and the Court is available to provide all types of collaboration. "International cooperation is a necessity. We know we have a long way to go. We need to adapt to the modern world of globalization. The United Nations contribution is very welcome," he said.

Pargendler stressed, moreover, that in terms of corruption, the Judiciary acts on two fronts: within the same power and when it is triggered externally, through proceedings. According to the minister, the Brazilian Judiciary is one of the most well organized in the world, in which the judge has all the necessary guarantees (independence and a life long position) to do their work. "Only a diversion of their behavior can motivate corruption", he evaluated.The representative of UNODC, Bo Mathiasen, welcomed the support offered by the STJ, stressing that globalization has changed dramatically the way of life of individuals, societies and states, where boundaries are more permeable and the transit of persons, goods, services and resources is increasingly agile. "Yet, the same logic that facilitates trade and the integration of peoples also involves radical changes in the dynamics of crime and violence," he noted. Thus, the same technologies that enable significant changes in people's lives are also used by those who mock the law, commit crimes and defy justice", stressed Mathiasen.

He also emphasized that the partnership intends to work for an increasingly agile, efficient, integrated, respected and useful Justice for all citizens. "To do so, there is a possibility of developing tools, researches, studies, analysis, and a diagnosis of the Judiciary, aiming at improving performance, ethics, independence and the impartiality of Justice," said the representative of UNODC.

Source: Superior Court of Justice of Brazil

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