Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC) Public Hearing: Viet Nam Investigation

The Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC) will hold its first Public Hearing on 14 and 15 November 2016 at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the Netherlands. The Public Hearing will address the wildlife trafficking hub Nhi Khe in Viet Nam. Investigating this hub for 12 months, WJC investigators observed a US$53.1 million trade in parts and products of rhinos, elephants, tigers and other endangered species trafficked through a criminal network consisting of 51 individuals.

The WJC is an independent, not-for-profit organization operating globally. It consists of criminal justice, law enforcement and wildlife crime experts. The WJC investigates cases of wildlife trafficking around the world. Each investigation delivers a “Map of Facts,” a detailed case file containing evidence and intelligence analysis. It is prepared by a team of law enforcement experts in accordance with the best law enforcement practice. Following completion of an investigation, the WJC establishes a dialogue with the national authorities of the governments involved to encourage national law enforcement to take action against individuals and businesses identified in the Map of Facts.

Should a government take no action, and all other avenues have been explored, the WJC may hold a Public Hearing. The purpose of a Public Hearing is to: persuade the relevant government to act; have the Map of Facts validated by an independent, impartial panel of experts; and formulate recommendations on how best to activate justice.