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"Fair trials must be guaranteed - wherever you are"
May 15, 2003 12:00 AM
Baroness Sarah Ludford, Liberal Democrat Euro-MP for London and a patron of Fair Trials Abroad, welcomes the fourth annual victims' day.
Says Sarah:
"Fair Trials Abroad provide an invaluable service to citizens caught up in other legal systems. Recently I worked with them on the case of the British planespotters which brought wide public attention to the need to ensure high judicial standards in all jurisdictions. In this way Fair Trials Abroad both supports individuals and offers much to the campaign to ensure awareness of the need to raise legal standards and avoid such miscarriages of justice.
"Focussing this year on the plight of international lorry drivers highlights the fact that for free movement of persons and of goods to operate effectively, people must be able to have confidence in legal systems of other countries to which their work may take them.
"Both as a London MEP and as European justice spokeswoman I take a close interest in cases such as those of David Stevenson and Patrick Kennedy. I shall continue to work with Fair Trials Abroad on these and other cases - such as that of Nick Baker, in prison and on trial in Japan, whose innocence could be proved if the Japanese sought information from Belgium - to secure a just outcome.
"A particular role falls to the EU. It must not only ensure criminals are brought to justice, but also put flesh on the bones of observance of fair trial rights such as legal advice, interpretation, bail, disclosure of evidence and minimum standards of investigation.
"There are now proposals from the European Commission with the objective of putting in place legally-enforced European standards. I hope the Government will take the lead, support this work and agree that the European Court of Justice should enforce observance."
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