Brasília, Brazil, 12 April 2023 - The activities of organized groups in Latin American prisons are a reality increasingly present throughout the region. Alternatives such as regional police, legal and penitentiary cooperation, coordinated transnational actions, and the improvement of penitentiary management in line with international minimum standards can stop this threat.
On March 27- 28, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) organized the workshop Regional Cooperation and Interinstitutional Coordination: Tools for Organized Crime Response in Brasilia, with the participation of justice and public security actors from Brazil and Paraguay. Aiming to share successful experiences of coordination between Brazil and Paraguay and to contribute to strengthening cooperation in the fight against organized crime inside and outside prisons, the activity was attended by representatives of the Ministries of Justice and Public Prosecutor's Offices of both countries, in addition to the National Police and the National Anti-Drug Secretariat of Paraguay and the Brazilian Federal Police.
Throughout the first day of the event, police representatives were able to share the priorities and strategies adopted by their agencies to contain organized crime, as well as the impact of Operation New Alliance in the region, a result of cooperation between the National Secretariat for Drug Policy (SENAD Paraguay) and the Brazilian Federal Police. Likewise, representatives from the National Secretariat for Penal Policies (SENAPPEN/MJSP) and the Ministry of Justice of Paraguay spoke about the measures adopted to respond to the actions of factions in the prison system.
The Vice-Minister of Criminal Policy of Paraguay, Letizia Sanabria, highlighted the contribution of technical assistance provided by Brazil under the PRIS-COOP project for the training of Paraguayan prison guards. The National Secretary of Penal Policies, Rafael Velasco, pointed out the need to expand the regional scope of cooperation between prison systems, involving other South American countries.
The Vice-Minister of Criminal Policy of Paraguay, Letizia Sanabria, highlighted the contribution of technical assistance provided by Brazil under the PRIS-COOP project for the training of Paraguayan prison guards. The National Secretary of Penal Policies, Rafael Velasco, pointed out the need to expand the regional scope of cooperation between prison systems, involving other South American countries.
UN Conventions - The organization of the workshop sponsored by UNODC relates to its role as guardian of the International Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the three International Drug Control Conventions, as well as the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, the Mandela and Bangkok Rules.
PRIS-COOP Project - The workshop was held as part of the PRIS-COOP project of UNODC, with the support of the United States Department of State. The initiative promotes the dissemination and adoption of innovative and inter-institutional practices to strengthen prison management and the fight against organized crime in Brazil and Paraguay, in line with international minimum standards.
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