On June 8, 2011, the government of Canada announced that $1 million would be given to El Salvador to assist that Central American country combat crime in general and human trafficking in particular.
In making the announcement, the Honourable Diane Ablonczy, the new Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas and Consular Affairs) stated, "International criminal activity is the most pressing challenge to the security of governments and individuals in Central America today. It hampers economic development, threatens the integrity of state institutions, and undermines democracy."
The money is payable from the ministry's Anti-Crime-Capacity Building Program which was set up by the Conservative government in 2009. Of the allocated funds, $841,000 will be given to the Justice Education Society of British Columbia (JES) for their Special Investigative Methods project. The remaining $178,000 will be provided to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to combat human trafficking.
Judicial Education Society of British Columbia
The mission statement of the Judicial Education Society of British Columbia is "Building stronger communities by promoting understanding of, access to and confidence in our justice system at home and abroad." The organization's objectives are to provide education to the general public as well as specified groups such as Aboriginals to assist them in understanding and gaining access to the judicial system. As well, JES endeavours to make those who work in the justice system aware of problems people have in gaining access.
To accomplish their education goals, JES issues publications and educational videos about the justice system. The group also currently runs 28 websites to advise people how to access the justice system.
As well as working in BC, the group is also engaged in international projects. In Ethiopia, JES is training members of Ethiopian police for in crime scene examination training. In Vietnam, the organization is helping the Vietnamese to provide public legal education to their citizens.
The Judicial Education Society of British Columbia currently runs the Special Investigative Methods project in Guatemala. The aim of the project is to assist law enforcement agencies with knowledge and equipment in the areas of investigative methods such as surveillance and wiretaps. According to JES, there are 20 homicides committed daily in Guatemala City. The training and equipment are necessary in order for Guatemala to fight organized criminal enterprises and gangs.
The money allocated by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada will allow JES to expand the Special Investigative Methods project to El Salvador.
International Organization for Migration
The second organization that will receive funds for El Salvador is the International Organization for Migration (IOM). This is an international organization that was created in 1951 and currently has 132 member states as well as 17 others that have observer status. The goals of IOM is to work with various governments to ensure the migration of people is done in an orderly and humane fashion.
The IOM deals with four types of migration including forced migration. Included in this category is the crime of human trafficking where persons are forced or tricked into travelling from one place to another. Usually this is done for the purpose of prostitution or to work as slaves or in slave like conditions for the traffickers.
While the IOM began as a small organization 60 years ago, it now has over 5,400 staff in more than 100 countries throughout the world.
The monies given by Foreign Affairs Canada is to be used to combat human trafficking in El Salvador.
Anti-Crime Capacity Building Program
On August 9, 2009, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the creation of the Anti-Crime Capacity Building Program (ACCBP). The announcement was made from Guadalajara Mexico where Harper was meeting with the presidents of the United States and Mexico.
Canada agreed to spend up to $15 million a year to help combat violent and organized crime in Mexico and other states in Central and South America. The first monies were allocated to Mexico to help that country recruit and train federal police officers. RCMP and other officials were to go to Mexico to assist in the training.
It is hoped that funding through ACCBP will help the fight against cartels and organized criminal enterprises whose activities such as drug trafficking have an impact in Canada.
Ablonczy made the announcement while in San Salvador to attend a meeting of the Organization of American States.
Arthur Weinreb - Weinreb is an author, associate editor and columnist with Canada Free Press and the Canadian Affairs Feature Writer for Suite 101.
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