Entebbe, 25 October 2014 – IGAD Security Sector Program (ISSP) held a three days regional conference on community engagement in crime prevention and control from 22-24 October 2014 in Entebbe, Uganda. The conference was officially opened by Commander Tuemay Aregawi, the Head of Transnational Organized Crime (TOC) Pillar at ISSP.
The overall objective of the conference was to facilitate understanding of community engagement in crime prevention and control in general and in the IGAD region in particular.
The level of participation was excellent with a total of twenty two (22) participants representing IGAD Member States. Officials from Institutions such as the Parliament, law enforcement agencies, Directorate of Public Prosecutions, Office of Attorney General, Ministry of Justice, SNCTC, and External Service Organization were in attendance. International Expert from the UK gave presentations and shared experience to enrich the overall objective of the conference.
The following detailed topics, among others, were covered at the training through presentation, discussions, case studies, and group exercises.
• Overview of concepts, meaning and historical development of community engagement
• Mechanisms and forms of community engagement in crime prevention and control
• Relevance/rationale, benefits and limitations of community engagement in crime prevention and control
• Implementation issues and tools of community engagement in crime prevention and control – policy, legislative, institutional, organizational, resources, partnership and operational issues – what requires to implement community engagement
• Member states’ and non-state actors’ experiences in community engagement in crime prevention and control – policies/strategies, practices, challenges,
• Best practice case studies
• Challenges of community engagement in crime prevention and control
• Way forward – effective ways of implementing community engagement in crime prevention and control
The workshop was adjourned by handing out certificate of participation preceded by closing remarks from Commander Tuemay, with vote of thanks to the participants, the experts, the staff, and the Government of Uganda. (END)
