IAP, UNESCO release new Guidelines for Prosecutors on Digital Evidence Collection　

On August 18, 2025, the International Association of Prosecutors (IAP) and UNESCO unveiled new Guidelines for Prosecutors on Digital Evidence Collection, adhering to international standards on freedom of expression and privacy.

Available in English, French and Spanish, these Guidelines offer practical tools for prosecutors to navigate digital evidence while safeguarding privacy and freedom of expression—two rights increasingly challenged in the digital era.

Digital technologies have revolutionized the production, sharing and storage of information, offering unprecedented opportunities for learning, access to information and freedom of expression. However, they also pose complex challenges for justice systems: every byte can become evidence. Prosecutors now face the difficult task of enforcing the law while safeguarding fundamental human rights.

The launch took place during a webinar co-organized by the IAP and UNESCO, attracting over 300 prosecutors, legal professionals, media representatives, and human rights advocates worldwide.

Key speakers included the authors of the Guidelines, Sabin Ouellet, Former Chief Prosecutor of Canada, and Simon Clements, Former Chief Crown Prosecutor of England and Wales, who outlined the content and significance of this new tool.

"Digital evidence has transformed criminal justice, offering powerful tools to uncover and prosecute crime. Yet, it also raises profound challenges. Prosecutors stand at the crossroads — tasked with handling electronic evidence effectively, while upholding freedom of expression, privacy, and the right to a fair trial," said Mehdi Benchelah, Senior Project Officer at the Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists section, UNESCO.

This initiative builds on the UNESCO-IAP partnership launched in 2020, which has strengthened prosecutors' abilities to protect freedom of expression and the safety of journalists. It is part of UNESCO's flagship Judges' Initiative, which has engaged over 36,000 judicial actors across 160 countries since 2013.

The Multi-Donor Program on Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists supported this initiative.