Director Hughes Leads U.S. Delegation at INTERPOL General Assembly

This week, INTERPOL Washington Director Michael A. Hughes is leading a delegation from the United States to Vienna, Austria to attend the annual INTERPOL General Assembly, the largest gathering of senior law enforcement officials in the world. This year’s General Assembly also marks the 100^th anniversary of INTERPOL and returns to the city where the organization was founded a century ago.

“I am honored to represent the United States and INTERPOL Washington at this historic General Assembly,” said Director Hughes. “The 100th anniversary of INTERPOL reminds us how much we can accomplish as now 196 nations – with the addition of Palau – coming together in the fight against transnational crime and terrorism. It also provides a chance to collaborate against the new and emerging threats we face together and to forge a path forward for the next 100 years.”

Director Hughes leads a delegation that includes personnel from INTERPOL Washington, U.S. Marshals Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Department of State Bureau of Counterterrorism and Bureau of Diplomatic Security, U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division, and Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center. He also serves as Delegate for the Americas on the INTERPOL Executive Committee and plays a vital role in the General Assembly, working as a bridge between the more than 18,000 U.S. law enforcement agencies and INTERPOL's global network. During the General Assembly, Director Hughes and the delegation will advance American interests, strengthen our homeland security, and work to create a safer world.

The 91^st INTERPOL General Assembly, November 28 to December 1 in Vienna, provides a unique opportunity for law enforcement agencies worldwide to strengthen their partnerships, share intelligence, and develop strategies to address the evolution of crime. It reinforces INTERPOL's commitment to facilitating cooperation among its 196 member countries and promoting a safer, more secure world.

The General Assembly is INTERPOL’s supreme governing body, comprising of representatives from each of the organization’s 196 member countries. It meets once a year, and each session lasts around four days to vote on key organizational matters. Decisions made during the General Assembly take the form of Resolutions and each member country present has one vote. The decision-making process is made by either a simple or two-thirds majority, depending on the subject matter. Resolutions are made public and posted on the INTERPOL website from 1960 onward.

A component of the U.S. Department of Justice co-managed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, INTERPOL Washington—the U.S. National Central Bureau (USNCB)—is the designated U.S. representative to INTERPOL. It serves as the national point of contact and coordination for all INTERPOL matters, coordinating international investigative efforts among member countries and the more than 18,000 local, state, federal, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies.