Peru fights human trafficking, environmental crimes and murders of indigenous leaders with European support

Three workshops have been developed for the Specialised Multidisciplinary Teams (EMEs) to address knowledge on human trafficking crimes, environmental crimes, and homicides of indigenous leaders and human rights defenders. These workspaces are part of the European project to support Peru in the fight against drugs and organised crime, and were attended by Spanish Public Expertise from prosecutors, magistrates, the Guardia Civil and the National Police.

The Specialised Multidisciplinary Teams are made up of professionals from the Public Prosecutor’s Office and police officers specialised in criminal investigation. It is a strategic tool for inter-institutional coordination, allowing these institutions to strengthen their capacity to fight organised crime at the national and international level.

The first training, on human trafficking crimes, aimed to train the EMEs in investigative tools to combat this crime and related crimes, as well as to evaluate their investigative capacities in complex criminal phenomena. The training has been provided by institutions such as the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the Central Unit for Immigration Networks and Documentary Forgery (UCRIF), the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Peruvian National Police or the Human Capital and Alternative Sociak, among others.

The second workshop dealt with environmental crimes and the monitoring of their activity, providing information on fundamental aspects, current environmental legislation, inter-institutional and international cooperation, technology and data analysis, as well as case management and judicial prosecution. Training has been provided by representatives of institutions such as the Ministry of Energy and Mines, the National Superintendence of Customs and Tax Administration (SUNAT), the Peruvian Navy, the Wildlife Conservation Society, among other national and international specialists.

Training in the investigation of homicides of indigenous leaders and human rights defenders has had spaces for dialogue with national and European experts with the aim of implementing a process of specific training in investigation. The training has addressed the legal framework of the rights of indigenous peoples at national and international level, types of homicides, risk factors and threats, investigation, protection, and case studies, among others. It was attended by entities such as the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, as well as national experts and those from foreign institutions.

EU and Peru’s commitment to tackle crime

During the closing event, the Head of Cooperation of the Delegation of the European Union in Peru, Jerome Poussielgue, mentioned the importance of these trainings to improve security, investigation and justice processes. “In this space we have shared a lot about priorities, problems and our actions to guide us to good practices in our functions, but these should also be reflected in a structure that allows us to carry out our functions effectively and quickly to deal with these crimes with the diligence they deserve,” he said.

For his part, the provincial prosecutor of the Special Prosecutor’s Office against Organised Crime, Lucio Sal y Rosas, highlighted the importance of joint work between the different institutions that make up the EMEs. “I believe that we are going to be stronger and bigger as long as we remain united. With the support of the EU and the other participating countries, we will see our ideal of creating these working teams materialise,” she said.

At the end of the closing ceremony, Sonia Medina, Director General of the Directorate of Organised Crime of the Peruvian Ministry of the Interior, mentioned the activities that will be carried out from now on. “Putting into practice all the training you have received is the challenge you now face. Organised crime cannot defeat justice. With the information you have received in these workshops, you will be able to carry out a proper investigation and deal with this type of crime,” he said.