The number of Mongolians studying, working and travelling for business purposes abroad has steadily increased since 1990. As Mongolia’s relations with foreign countries around the world expand, so have the numbers of Mongolians traveling abroad. Unfortunately, this also means the number of Mongolians convicted of crimes abroad has also increased. Currently there are a total of 130 Mongolian citizens now serving jail time in foreign countries. These individuals face many difficulties such as the language barrier, extreme climates, and different qualities and preferences for food. Additionally, due to distance, these inmates have very limited opportunity to meet with family which may visit.
The Mongolian Government making efforts at bringing some small relieve to these convicts of criminal offences abroad, but expanding opportunities for them to serve sentences in their home country.
In the last years, Mongolia ratified the international Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, established in Strasbourg on March 21, 1983. It has been ratified by 65 countries, including every country of the Council of Europe (except Monaco), in addition to Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Mexico and the United States. Under the provisions of this convention, Mongolian convict within member countries have been transferred to Mongolia. At the same time, foreign convicts in Mongolia can be transferred to their home countries via the Convention or through bilateral agreements with Mongolia.
Mongolia has concluded a Bilateral Treaty on the transfer of sentenced person with seven countries, namely Peoples Republic of China, Russia, Canada, Poland, Turkey, South Korea and Cuba. At the beginning of 2016, the Parliament approved the bilateral agreement with Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China. As a result, nine Mongolian convicts serving jail time in Hong Kong are now eligible to be transferred to Mongolia.