Independent judges and the rule of law necessary for investment

Dubai: Ensuring sovereignty of law and independence of judiciary is a framework to guarantee rights, and basically required for economic stability, trust and safety, all of which eventually reflects positively on investments, Dubai's Attorney General said yesterday.

"These are objectives laid down by the UAE's wise leadership and which act as the beacon that guides the country towards achieving justice for all, respecting rights of Emiratis and expatriates, and reaffirming our commitment to international laws," said Attorney General Essam Eisa Al Humaidan during the inauguration of the 6th International Association of Prosecutors (IAP) Middle East and Asia-Pacific Regional Conference.

Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, inaugurated the Conference which is being held for the first time in the Middle East.

Addressing more than 164 attorney generals, prosecutors and members of justice sector, representing over 60 countries, Al Humaidan said the UAE's interaction with the world from east to west means that the country is prepared to deal with all its consequences and challenges affecting all aspects of life, including security and judiciary systems.

"The revolution in technology mandates a change and an update. Crimes today are neither isolated nor their impact and danger is limited to a certain region or country; any crime that takes place in any spot in the world across echoes in the whole world," he said in his keynote address at Atlantis Hotel.

'Public Prosecution in the 21st Century'

Dubai Public Prosecution (DPP) is hosting the 3-day conference which assembled on Saturday under the theme, 'Public Prosecution in the 21st Century'.

He said the UAE has chosen to play a proactive role and interact with what the world would offer in a way that would not contradict its beliefs, values and principles deeply rooted in the society here.

The event will be discussing two important issues; the use of Information Technology in the prosecution process and risk management.

Thanking His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for providing prosecutors the opportunity to exchange practical information and enhance levels of cooperation in dealing with transactional crime, François Falletti, IAP President, said: "Dubai is indeed the right place to talk about the role of prosecutors in the coming times, given the recognition that DPP Service received the award of an ISO certificate, which is a signal of quality and a testimony to continual improvement."

He said, in his speech: "Another project recognised as a main goal by our Kiev conference (in September) will be briefly introduced here by some colleagues from the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime regional office in Bangkok. They will present their plans to establish Asiajust, similar to the Eurojust model already established in Europe, one of the purposes being to improve the quality and the swiftness of mutual legal assistance in the fight against transnational crime.

Falletti, who is also Prosecutor General of the Court of Appeal, Aix en Provence, France, said participants shall discuss ahead crucial issues, such as the use of new technology, management, anticorruption measures and security for the accused persons, witnesses and prosecution personnel and property.