12-12-2018: Mombasa, Kenya: The IGAD Security Sector Program (IGAD SSP) together with IGAD Member States are holding a workshop in Mombasa, Kenya to review, evaluate, improve and validate findings and recommendations of IGAD Member State national assessment reports of national Criminal Information System (CIS) and infrastructures aimed at establishing a regional mechanism for law enforcement and criminal justice system cross border cooperation to address the evolving, emerging and existing transnational security threats (EEE-TSTs), an initiative of IGAD SSP.
The Director of IGAD SSP, Commander Abebe Muluneh in his opening remarks commended the institutions represented from IGAD Member States for working within the existing national mechanisms to handle large amounts of information and records pertaining to crime and criminals.
He added that through the establishment of a regional and standardized system, it will enhance and contribute to efficient, timely information sharing and facilitating greater coordination at national and regional levels as well as working more efficiently, effectively and collectively to tackle crime, control, apprehend, prosecute and sanction criminals with quick access.
“IGAD is cognizant that countering and preventing transnational security threats requires a common framework and effective security cooperation between member states where criminal information and intelligence will be shared in a timely manner with mutual legal assistance and extradition; joint investigations; harmonized national policies, legislation and criminal justice procedures and specialized competences across the law enforcement and intelligence communities capable of investigating, prosecuting and trying complex transnational cases ” Commander Abebe added.
The standardized system will be able store, analyze, retrieve crime and criminal records to curb crime across borders as well as assist in the detention, conviction of criminals.
The findings and recommendations of the reports will be essential tools to formulate regional policy frameworks and members of national delegations that will consist of senior officials who have a legitimate mandate to review, evaluate and improve the reports representing their governments; and experts who will technically analyze, review and improve the assessment reports.
Crime prevention and investigation primarily depends upon the availability of accurate, timely, reliable and complete information therefore should be shared among mandated agencies and officers at national, regional and global level to prevent and counter such threats through the establishment of a regional cooperation and coordination mechanism against Trans-State Threats.
The 4-day meeting that is funded by the European Union via the African Union’s Africa Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) project will also analyze existing gaps and limitations in contrast to effective national systems and in establishing regional standard harmonized criminal information system that will facilitate cross-border cooperation and information exchange among IGAD Member States.
After the in-depth and constructive review from participants; their reviews will be utilized to enrich and improve the current national reports that will later be presented and validated by the Member States.
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