The Caribbean region faces persistent challenges related to corruption, a potent facilitator of illicit activities. Recognising the detrimental impact of corruption on institutional integrity, CRIMJUST actively engages in initiatives to prevent and combat corruption. A key objective of CRIMJUST is to aid beneficiary countries in their fight against organised crime along trafficking routes. This involves bolstering transnational investigations, criminal justice actions, and fostering international cooperation.
CRIMJUST, in its commitment to fortifying ethics and integrity standards in border control units, conducts targeted training programmes throughout its partner countries. The recent session, hosted in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, from 30 January to 1 February, 2024, exemplifies this initiative. These workshops are strategically designed to enhance and embed a robust culture of ethics and integrity. By acknowledging the pivotal role played by border control units in combating organised crime and illicit trafficking, these sessions contribute to the overarching mission of fostering ethical practices within law enforcement.
Collaborating with key projects like AIRCOP, CCP, SEACOP, and COLIBRI, the training aims to strengthen the application of ethics and integrity standards at ports and airports in alignment with the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). Notable figures such as the Director General of the General Directorate of Ethics and Government Integrity (DIGEIG), and the Ambassador of the European Union to the Dominican Republic, underscored the significance of this activity.
The workshop addressed critical topics such as the role of law enforcement agencies in society, border vulnerabilities, and the identification and management of corruption risks in border control. By encouraging reflections on the integral role of integrity in their work, the training sought to enhance understanding and responsiveness to integrity threats, ultimately reducing the risk of corruption in operational activities. As a part of the GIFP, CRIMJUST continues advancing comprehensive counter-organized crime strategies beyond mere interdiction activities, fostering transnational responses.
