On 13th May 2024, during the 33rd Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ), CRIMJUST held a significant side event highlighting the critical focus of its work: the security and protection of prosecutors in Ibero-America. This event provided a platform for prosecutors from the AIAMP (Ibero-American Association of Public Prosecutors) Working Group on Prosecutor Security and Protection to share their experiences and the daily challenges they face in combating organised crime. The event underscored the crucial role of resilient criminal justice institutions and the protection of prosecutors in the fight against organised crime and the dismantling of criminal networks.
Mario Hemmerling, the coordinator of CRIMJUST, opened the event by emphasising the importance of protecting prosecutors to ensure the resilience of criminal justice institutions. His Excellency Mr. Carl Hallergard, EU Ambassador to the United Nations in Vienna, also participated, highlighting CRIMJUST’s alignment with European Union values such as strengthening institutional integrity, respecting human rights, and ensuring the safety and protection of professionals confronting organised crime.
Patricia Sanchez, coordinator of the AIAMP Working Group and prosecutor from Paraguay, presented a grim reality: in the past two years, eight Ibero-American prosecutors have been murdered in retaliation for their efforts against organised crime. She recounted the tragic assassination of Paraguayan prosecutor Marcelo Pecci in 2022 and explained the creation of the AIAMP Working Group on Prosecutor Security and Protection, supported by UNODC CRIMJUST. This group has developed a Protection and Security Protocol, establishing basic principles and procedures for ensuring prosecutor safety, which was approved in the 31st AIAMP General Assembly in February 2024.
In the same week as the CCPCJ, CRIMJUST and the Working Group developed a guide on best practices for prosecutor protection, which will promote the implementation of the established protocol. This guide will serve as a key tool for enhancing the training of criminal justice experts, ensuring they are well-equipped to handle the risks they face. Wilson Buitrago of Colombia stressed the importance of implementing these best practices and highlighted Colombia’s extensive experience in protecting victims, witnesses, and legal participants, despite the country’s history of violence.
Anahi Briceño, coordinator of Ecuador’s National Protection and Assistance System for Victims and Witnesses, delivered an emotional address underscoring the urgent need for enhanced security measures for prosecutors in Ecuador. She noted the brutal reality that six prosecutors have been killed by organised crime in Ecuador in the past two years. Briceño emphasised that protecting prosecutors is essential for upholding the rule of law and democracy. She called for strengthened security infrastructure and better coordination among protection agencies, acknowledging the critical support of CRIMJUST and UNODC in these efforts. Briceño concluded by urging continued international cooperation to safeguard those dedicated to justice and the fight against organised crime.
