UNODC supports strengthening of Criminal Justice Support Programme in Paraguay

Asunción, 13 November 2013 - Magistrates of the Judicial Power held this week the second day of a workshop to strengthen the Technical Commission for Supporting Criminal Justice, which aims to develop an organizational chart and effective regulation to improve the criminal justice system in Paraguay. This initiative has the support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), as part of the National Integrated Country Programme for Strengthening the Rule of Law, Security and Justice in Paraguay.

The event happened on Monday at the Carmelita Centre, in Asunción, and was attended by the Minister of the Supreme Court of Justice, Dr. Luis María Benítez Riera, and other judicial authorities and UN representatives.

Riera said that the programme that began some time ago is going well, taking into account the results obtained so far and the Senate's support in developing projects to strengthen the Technical Commission for Supporting Criminal Justice.

"The Technical Commission is already showing results in the work that is being done in the Senate with others committees on draft laws that are constantly being developed," said Riera.

He also thanked the UNODC Programme Office in Paraguay for the support in holding such meetings and for giving impetus to the development of projects that help improve criminal justice.

Meanwhile, UNODC's Senior Advisor José Manuel Martínez said that National Integrated Country Programme for Strengthening the Rule of Law, Security and Justice in Paraguay was created thanks to the initiative of the Government of Paraguay.

"What we are doing is very important because it is the first experience we have with a programme that incorporates all of UNODC's mandates. Until now we had projects and programmes on specific issues and themes, but this is the first time that we are developing a comprehensive programme, which includes the priorities identified by the Paraguayan government based on the country's needs", said Martinez.

It should be noted that the workshop is part of Sub-Programme 2, "Justice and Anti-corruption", of the National Integrated Country Programme implemented by UNODC in Paraguay, with funding from the Government of Germany.

Related information

UNODC and Paraguay launch a four years National Integrated Country Programme to tackle organized crime (in Portuguese, Spanish and English)

Paraguay presents strategies to strengthen the fight against corruption and drug trafficking (in Portuguese, Spanish and English)

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