PROTECTION OF WITNESSES AS STATED BY THE INTERNATIONAL TREATIES AND AGREEMENTS: AN OBJECTIVE STUDY

Abstract

Abstract The study discussed the protection of witnesses as stated by international treaties and agreements. The problem this study stemmed from is the risks that witnesses are exposed to as a result of giving witness such as threatening them in order to refrain from doing so or exposing them to danger or even murder. The study aimed to explain the level of substantive protection for witnesses in international agreements and treaties, and to know the aspects of procedural protection for witnesses in international agreements and treaties. This study adopted the descriptive inductive methodology. It concluded with some results. The international and Arab agreements criminalize any act that will affect the performance of testimony and obstruct the course of justice and investigation. In addition, many international agreements do not provide details about the procedures followed for procedural protection due to the difference in legal systems of the countries that signed the agreement. Moreover, all countries’ legal systems lack witness protection programs. Finally, all countries are unable to afford the relevant laws. The study recommended that unified global programs for witness protection should be substantively and procedurally developed, and that all countries should allocate financial budgets to witness protection units and their programs.