Issues
 Communications surveillance
 Travel surveillance
 Identity documents
 Terrorist watch lists
 Migration and border controls
 Security cooperation
 Financial surveillance

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About the project

Key ICAO Documents

ICAO's Jurisdiction

Many of the ICAO strategies that affect policy laundering come within the ambit of 'Aviation Security' (AVSEC) and it is relevant to look primarily at the source of the ICAO's jurisdiction in this area. There are three relevant Conventions in this regard, that are frequently referred to and re-enforced throughout the text of subsequent ICAO documents. These are:

• Article 90 of the 'Convention on Civil Aviation' or the Chicago Convention, which allows for subsequent annexes to be attached to the Convention. Annex 17 concerns aviation security and contains a set of Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) in this regard. Unfortunately, Annex 17 can only be obtained directly from ICAO.

• The 'Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft' was signed at the Hague on 16th December 1970 (and is thus referred to as the 'Hague Convention'). Article 11 of this Convention requires each contracting state to report to the International Civil Aviation Organisation as promptly as possible, any information in its possession concerning an offence under the Convention, any action taken in relation to the aircraft and in relation to the offender.

• The 'Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Civil Aviation' was opened for signature on 23rd September 1971 in Montreal (the Montreal Convention), and entered into force on 26th January 1973. Article 13 of this Convention requires each contracting state to report to the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organisation as promptly as possible any information in its possession concerning the circumstances of the offence, the action with regard to an incident and the measures taken with regard to the alleged offender.

General Assembly Sessions

ICAO policy on aviation security is largely accessible to the general public through the General Assembly Resolutions - specifically the 'Consolidated Statement of continuing ICAO polices related to the safeguarding of International Civil Aviation against Acts of Unlawful Interference', which is revised at each Assembly meeting. One of the more notable aspects established through this resolution is the 'ICAO Mechanism'. The ICAO Council originally initiated the creation of a 'Mechanism' to assist States in 'the strengthening of implementation and co-operation in the field of aviation security' and it has been developed to provide states with financial, technical and material assistance in establishing and maintaining security measures in this area.

There appear to be various influencing bodies involved in the subsequent authorisation and encouragement for much of AVSEC's operations, including General Assembly Resolutions, AVSEC conferences and other bodies, such as the 'Airports Council International'. As a result, it is difficult to decipher the complete ICAO policy on security at any one time, however below is an attempt to map the chronological development of the AVSEC 'Mechanism' and other strategies that come within the ambit of the 'Policy Laundering Project'. 

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