International Criminal Conventions Ratified by Switzerland

International Criminal Conventions

Switzerland is party to numerous international criminal conventions that supplement the IMAC and facilitate cooperation with other states.

Council of Europe Conventions

The main Council of Europe conventions ratified by Switzerland are:

1. The European Convention on Extradition (ECE, 1957)
2. The European Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters (ECMA, 1959)
3. The Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons (1983)
4. The Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the Proceeds from Crime (1990)
5. The Criminal Law Convention on Corruption (1999)

UN Conventions

Switzerland has ratified several UN conventions:

1. The Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs (1988)
2. The Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (Palermo Convention, 2000)
3. The Convention against Corruption (Merida Convention, 2003)
4. Conventions against terrorism

Bilateral Treaties

Switzerland has concluded bilateral treaties on MLA and extradition with numerous countries, including:

1. The United States (MLAT, 1973)
2. Canada
3. Australia
4. Brazil
5. Several countries in Asia and Latin America

Hierarchy of Norms

In case of conflict between an international treaty and the IMAC, the treaty prevails (art. 1 para. 1 IMAC). Bilateral treaties may provide more favourable conditions for assistance than the IMAC.

Constant Evolution

Switzerland's treaty network is constantly expanding. New conventions are being negotiated or ratified, particularly in the areas of cybercrime and digital cooperation.