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Red Notice Monitor recently submitted proposals in response to Interpol’s call for contributions regarding reforms to the Commission for the Control of Interpol’s Files, the CCF. Our submission addressed the two areas currently under consideration by the Committee on the Processing of Data (CPD): the procedure for examination of new requests and measures to address misuse of CCF proceedings.

Interpol has now acknowledged receipt of our submission, confirming that relevant contributions will be shared with the CPD for consideration. As indicated in the original call for contributions, Interpol has committed “to provide at a later stage an update on relevant developments concerning the topics to which contributions were submitted.”

This engagement represents a positive step for the organisation. As we have extensively documented on this blog, most recently in our analysis of non-compliant notice statistics, effective reform of Interpol procedures is essential to ensuring the integrity of its systems. With significant numbers of notices being found non-compliant over the past decade, the need for robust procedural safeguards has never been greater.

The willingness of Interpol to engage with external stakeholders, including practitioners who work directly with individuals affected by the notice system, represents a constructive approach to addressing longstanding concerns. Many of our colleagues around the world have also filed similar submissions.

The team at Red Notice Monitor has been at the forefront of advocating for Interpol reform, including in giving recent evidence to the UK Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, where we highlighted the importance of safeguards against potential misuse of Interpol’s notice systems.

We look forward to continued collaboration with Interpol and fellow practitioners around the world in pursuit of an effective notice system. The current review of the CCF’s legal framework provides a great opportunity to strengthen oversight mechanisms and enhance protections against misuse – reforms that are essential to preserving Interpol’s credibility as a neutral and reliable international law enforcement body.

We will continue to monitor developments and provide updates on this important reform process as information becomes available.

Photo: by Scott Graham via Unsplash

About the Authors

Ben Keith Barrister

Ben Keith is a barrister at 5 St Andrew's Hill and co-founder of International Human Rights Advisors. He specialises in INTERPOL Red Notice challenges, extradition, asylum, and international human rights law. He has acted in cases before the European Court of Human Rights Grand Chamber, the UK Supreme Court, the African Commission, the Inter-American Commission, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, and the UN Committee Against Torture. He is ranked Star Individual in Chambers & Partners for extradition.

Rhys Davies Barrister

Rhys Davies is a barrister at Temple Garden Chambers and co-founder of IHR Advisors. He specialises in INTERPOL Red Notice challenges, extradition, international criminal law and human rights law. He co-authored the report Undue Influence: the UAE and Interpol with Sir David Calvert-Smith, and has provided expert commentary on Interpol to CBS 60 Minutes, Sky News and City AM. He represents clients in high-profile cases involving political persecution and transnational repression.

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