2004 Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters

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Full Title	2004 Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters
Short Title / Abbreviations	MLAT 2004
CIL Subject Classification	ASEAN Documents ASEAN Political-Security Community Law Transnational Crime
Date of Adoption	29/11/2004
Place of Adoption	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Issued/Adopted by	Signed by the Ministers of Justice/Law, Attorneys-General
Dispute settlement provisions	Article 28. Settlement of Disputes “Any difference or dispute between the Parties arising from the interpretation or implementation of the provisions of this Treaty shall be settled amicably through consultation or negotiation between the Parties through diplomatic channels or any other peaceful means for the settlement of disputes as agreed between the Parties.”
Depository	Secretary-General of ASEAN
Entry Into Force Status	In Force
Entry into Force / Termination Provisions	Article 31. Entry into Force, Application and Termination “1. This Treaty shall enter into force for each Party ratifying, accepting, approving or acceding to it on the date of the deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession. 2. This Treaty shall apply to requests presented after the date of its entry into force for both the Parties concerned whether the relevant acts or omissions constituting the offence occurred before or after that date. 3. Any Party may denounce this Treaty by written notification to the Depositary State. Denunciation shall take effect six months following the date on which notification is received by the Depositary State. 4. Denunciation of this Treaty shall be without prejudice to the rights and obligations arising from or based on this Treaty and to the completion of any requests made pursuant to this Treaty before or up to the date of denunciation. 5. The denunciation of this Treaty shall have effect only as regards the Party that has notified it. The Treaty shall remain in force for the other Parties.”
Status
ASEAN States	(Source: ASEAN Secretariat as of 20/07/2022)
Brunei Darussalam	Signature 29/11/2004 Ratification 15/02/2006
Cambodia	Signature 29/11/2004 Ratification 08/04/2010
Indonesia	Signature 29/11/2004 Ratification 09/09/2008
Lao PDR	Signature 29/11/2004 Ratification 25/06/2007
Malaysia	Signature 29/11/2004 Ratification 01/06/2005
Myanmar	Signature 17/01/2006 Ratification 22/01/2009
Philippines	Signature 29/11/2004 Ratification 12/12/2008
Singapore	Signature 29/11/2004 Ratification 28/04/2005
Thailand	Signature 17/01/2006 Ratification 31/01/2013
Vietnam	Signature 29/11/2004 Ratification 25/10/2005
Related Instruments
Related Instruments	2007 ASEAN Convention on Counter Terrorism 2009 ASEAN Political-Security Community Blueprint 2015 ASEAN Convention against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children 2015 ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together
External Links	ASEAN accessed on 20/07/2022
Additional Information	Dates of ratification given above were obtained from the ASEAN Secretariat’s Legal Instruments website and its electronic collection of instruments of ratification, accession and notification. Some of the dates given appear to be the dates of execution of the instruments of ratification/accession, rather than their date of receipt by the depository, or a date of receipt that is not visible on the electronic copy of the instrument. Note that although the parties of this treaty comprise the ten ASEAN member states and its ratification status is reflected on the ASEAN Secretariat’s Legal Instruments, this treaty is not officially designated as an ASEAN instrument. The ASEAN Political-Security Community Blueprint 2025 within the 2015 ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together indicates as measure B.3.1.i. “Work towards elevating the MLAT 2004 to an ASEAN Treaty”.