26-28 June 2018 - The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) under the framework of the CRIMJUST Programme, in collaboration with the National Commission for Development and Life Without Drugs (DEVIDA PERU) and the Iberoamerican Network of Anti-Drug Prosecutors (RFAI) delivered a workshop on International Judicial Cooperation in cases of organized crime, drug trafficking and money laundering.
With a regional focus, the workshop contributed to strengthening judicial cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean by improving the capacities of criminal justice officers from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, Panama and Peru.
At the inaugural event, Pilar Sosa, Director of DEVIDA's Global Commitment Directorate, expressed her commitment to "support national and international entities that fight against drug trafficking and money laundering. Hence, with the technical assistance of UNODC, the curriculum of the workshop seeks to meet the needs of the justice sector and aims to have a multiplier effect. "
Stefaan Pauwels, Head of Cooperation of the Delegation of the European Union highlighted the support towards efficient criminal investigations and the need to further strengthen the fight against drug trafficking in Peru and the region.
Representing the UNODC office in Peru and Ecuador, Juan Carlos Araneda mentioned that it is essential for UNODC to actively promote regional and international judicial cooperation through the exchange of good practices and technical assistance at a national and regional level.
During the workshop, the mechanisms of international cooperation in drug trafficking and related organized crime, as well as the effective application of agreements, treaties, bilateral and multilateral agreements were analyzed.
Through the participation of several focal points of the Iberoamerican Network of Anti-Drug Prosecutors, key topics related to flexible methods for formal cooperation such as, spontaneous information exchange or networking were addressed.
Overall, participants were able to expand their knowledge of the standards and regulations of countries in the region, as well as the current mechanisms, procedures, and successful experiences, which will allow to improve the levels of effectiveness in the processes of judicial cooperation.
Under the framework of the CRIMJUST project funded by European Union Cocaine Route Programme, UNODC and its partners (INTERPOL and TI) aim to assist Member States to enhance their capacity and integrity of criminal justice institutions to detect, investigate, prosecute and adjudicate illicit cocaine trafficking cases, and to foster cooperation at the interregional level for effective action to tackle drug trafficking and related organized crime.
For more information:
- European Union "Cocaine Route Programme"
- National Commission for Development and Life without Drugs
- Office UNODC in Peru and Ecuador
- Iberoamerican Network of Anti-Drug Prosecutors (RFAI)
