03/03/2021
The ICRIME project team analyses results of criminal investigation during the visit to the Spanish embassy in El Salvador
ICRIME visit to the Embassy of El Salvador
Within the framework of the European Union-financed ICRIME project on cooperation in criminal investigation in Central America, the team that travelled to El Salvador held a meeting with Carlos de la Morena, the Spanish ambassador to that country.
The purpose of the visit was to talk about the role that FIIAPP plays in promoting Public Technical Cooperation and the peer work performed in the public sector, as well as assessing the implementation of the two results of the project that FIIAPP manages in consortium with Expertise France in the countries of the Central American Integration System (SICA).
The project’s activities were intense during 2020, with 95% compliance with the Annual Operational Plan. The improvement activities in the forensic laboratories of the SICA region, through the transfer of skills of specialists from the Spanish Ministries of Justice and the Interior and the exchange of knowledge between their counterparts in the forensic and criminal investigation laboratories in the areas of forensic genetics, quality and gender violence crime prevention, have contributed to a great reception among the participants.
In addition, there have been highlights in the support provided in aspects related to the confrontation with COVID-19 and the biosafety recommendations in the Institutes of Legal Medicine due to the pandemic and the support of the project in the processes of obtaining ISO accreditation of forensic laboratories.
This cooperation was also evident in the development of regional manuals on special investigation methods and a technical guide on cybercrime, through working groups made up of investigative personnel and prosecutors from the countries of the Central American region.
As a good practice, the School of the Public Ministry of Panama has included the manual on asset-related investigations among its teaching material.
Once the results had been analysed, new challenges were identified to continue promoting Central American regional integration in security matters, promoting the strengthening of networks, the capacities of the institutions comprising SICA in order to improve the levels of effectiveness and efficiency in criminal justice, mutual trust, compatible regulation and regional operational coordination. To achieve this, the efforts of the General Secretariat of SICA and the support of the Spanish Cooperation were combined.
