CARICOM States will soon benefit from enhanced global tools and expertise related to research, delivery of training, capacity building, technical assistance and policy support to assist in reducing criminality and countering terrorism in the Region, through an enhanced collaboration between the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS).
On Friday, 4th December 2020 (at 09:00 hrs. AST), Antonia Marie De Meo, Director of UNICRI and Michael Jones, Executive Director (Ag.) of CARICOM IMPACS will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their cooperation in the field of crime prevention and international justice.
In particular, the cooperation will envisage the design and implementation of training and research activities aimed at countering organised crime and fighting all forms of illegal trafficking and illicit financial flows, preventing and countering violent extremism, security through research, technology and innovation, including work in artificial intelligence, among other thematic areas within the criminal justice sector.
Expressing her satisfaction with the signing, Antonia Marie de Meo, the Director of UNICRI states: “I am particularly glad to sign this agreement and to formalize the long-lasting cooperation and friendship between our Organizations.” She underlines that UNICRI and CARICOM IMPACS have worked together for more than a decade to strengthen the security of / at major sport events, which has “ensured free movements of spectators among eight (8) different Member States, balancing the need for security with full enjoyment of the events by both the spectators and the local population.”
IMPACS Executives Director (Ag.) Lieutenant Colonel Michael Jones noted that "this is a significant moment, not just for CARICOM IMPACS, but for CARICOM States to benefit from the global tools, strength and support of UNICRI, particularly in the area of training and research.”
This MOU will expand on a previous MOU between the two (2) agencies which was signed in 2009, to reflect the current crime threats and criminal justice needs in the Region. The previous MOU between UNICRI and CARICOM IMPACS which provided a framework for the security of major events still represents a milestone for planning major co-hosted sport events.
For more information:
UNICRI
Visit www.unicri.it; follow on Twitter (@UNICRI), and on Facebook (@unicri.it), or contact: Ms. Marina Mazzini, marina.mazzini@un.org; unicri.publicinfo@un.org
CARICOM IMPACS
Visit www.caricomimpacs.org; follow on Twitter (@CImpacs), and on Facebook (@caricomimpacs), or contact: Mr. Roger Belgrave, rbelgrave@carimpacs.org; secretariat@carimpacs.org
About CARICOM
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Implementation Agency for Crime and Security serves fifteen (15) Member States and five (5) Associate Members. IMPACS is an institution of CARICOM established by Inter-Governmental Agreement in July 2006 and its two (2) sub-agencies: the Joint Regional Communications Centre (JRCC) and the Regional Intelligence Fusion Centre (RIFC), fulfil its primary responsibility for the implementation of the CARICOM Crime and Security Agenda.
