The Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights (LBI-GMR) cordially invites you to attend the launch event for the research results of the “Flightrisk: Assessing the risk of flight during pre-trial detention” project at the Press Club Concordia on Wednesday,  5  June 2024, between 3:00 and 6:00 p.m.

Prison overcrowding is a well-known pan-European phenomenon that has been fostering inhumane and degrading treatment during detention for many years. Reducing pre-trial detention offers a sustainable solution to counteract this development. The project started from this premise and investigated in Bulgaria, Belgium, Ireland, Poland and in Austria the most common reason for pre-trial detention in the EU: flight risk (the risk of absconding). The research focussed primarily on the national decision-making practices and assessment criteria regarding the imposition of pre-trial detention, particularly with regard to flight risk. After the presentation of the Austrian Research Report, the project partner Fair Trials will present the results of the analyses from the partner countries and the case law of the ECtHR regarding the risk of absconding. Finally, the results will be evaluated in a panel discussion with legal practitioners.

Programme:

Moderation: Hauke Benjes-Pitcz (Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights)

• 3:00 – 3:15 Welcoming Remarks (in German): Patricia Mussi-Mailer (Administrative Director, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights)
• 3:15 – 3:45 Presentation Research Results Austria (in German) “Flight Risk as a Ground for Pre-Trial Detention in Austria”: Edith Riegler (Researcher, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights)
• 3:45 – 4:15 Case Law of the European Court of Human Rights “Regional Perspectives: An ECtHR Case Law Review of Flight Risk as a Ground for Pre-Trial Detention”: Chryssa Mela (Senior Legal Officer, Fair Trials)
• 4:15 – 4:45 Comparative Analyses “A Comparative Study of the Assessment of Flight Risk as a Ground for Pre-trial Detention– Belgium, Bulgaria, Ireland & Poland “: Jean Tomkin (Senior Legal Advisor, Fair Trials)
• 4:45 – 5:00 Break
• 5:00 – 6 Panel discussion (in German and English) “Best Practices and Controversial Procedures: Discussing Flight Risk as a Ground for Pre-trial Detention in Austria and the EU”: Moderation: Katrin Wladsch (Programme Line Leader (In-)Equalities and Non-Discrimination, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental an Human Rights); Panelists: Michael Schietz, Public Prosecutor; Andrea Concin, Defense Lawyer; Julia Kolda, Defense Lawyer; Jean Tomkin, Fair Trials; Chryssa Mela, Fair Trials
• 18:00 End – Conversations over Drinks and Snacks

Most programme items will be held entirely or partly in German, which is why all participants will have the option of professional simultaneous translation by Austrian Business Translations using a whispering case. A receiver can be booked free of charge when registering for the event and can be borrowed at the entrance to the conference hall before the event begins.

Due to a limited number of seats, please register for the event at: https://eveeno.com/877110063 by Tuesday, 4 June 2024.

The project was co-funded by the Justice Programme of the European Union and the Federal Ministry of Justice of the Federal Republic of Austria.