Guatemala, May 21, 2012. Since the beginning of 2011, the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) and the Public Prosecutor's Office (MP) have established and prioritized strategies, through a series of periodic reviews, to strengthen investigations and criminal prosecution. By doing so, the aim is to make the Guatemala justice system more efficient.

An example of such strategies is the involvement of the Special Anti-impunity Prosecutor's Bureau (FECI) of the Public Prosecutor's Office (MP) in investigations and criminal prosecutions of complex crimes linked to illegal security groups. The continual and practical strengthening of MP prosecutors is achieved through the joint investigation of complex crimes assigned to FECI. As part of this work, investigation plans are drafted, investigative activities are implemented and procedural strategies are established, which fosters the transfer of capabilities to staff at the FECI.

Investigative methods such as techniques for interviewing and examining witnesses were enhanced, as were detention operations and judicial searches of properties. The appropriate implementation of special investigative methods set forth in Guatemalan legislation is of particular importance, such as wiretapping, the use of effective cooperators and video conferences.

In this regard, upon request by the MP, recommendations have been made regarding the project for internal training on the use of effective cooperators. In relation to wiretapping, international police investigators from CICIG offered training on the analysis of phone calls to assistant prosecutors from FECI, to staff from the Criminal Investigation Department of the MP and to officers from the National Civil Police (PNC) that are assigned to the Commission.

In 2011, with the backing of CICIG, the sixth office of the Special Anti-impunity Prosecutor's Bureau—which will focus on investigating human trafficking, femicide and violence against women—was created.

In October 2008, CICIG presented a proposal to strengthen the witness protection program, which led to the signing of an agreement between the MP, the Ministry of the Interior and the Commission. At present, the MP must guarantee the trustworthiness of the staff assigned to the Protection Office and hire more personnel. In addition, CICIG has supported the program to create regulations, protocols, good practice models and operational strategies.

Furthermore, the Commission has continued to assist with witness protection in high-impact cases and has spoken with the international community in order to obtain financial support for the Protection Office. CICIG oversaw the training of staff working at the Protection Office, which was given by experts of the US Marshalls Witness Security Division from the United States Justice Department. The training took place in July and August 2011, where nearly 60 members of the National Civil Police assigned to the Protection Office received both theoretical and practical training on operational protection techniques and good security practices for witnesses.

As part of another strategy, CICIG created a proposal for the Analysis Unit of the MP, which included the construction of a technological information platform. The project is designed to be a joint project implemented by the MP and the Ministry of the Interior; therefore, the Commission has drafted an agreement proposal for the two institutions.

Other steps to strengthen the institutions
-Public Prosecutor's Office (MP): At the behest of the MP, the Security Unit of CICIG carried out a diagnostic survey of the structure and the functioning of the Security Department of the MP, which has led to the drafting of a plan to strengthen said department. Training programs were created and offered from September 2011 onwards. The programs addressed two key areas: Personal protection techniques while on the move and the analysis of risks. The latter was undertaken with a view to developing special units within the Security Department of the MP.

-The National Civil Police: Members of the PNC continue to join CICIG, both in the Security Department and the Investigations Department, where they receive training on handling firearms, driving of vehicles and protection of persons while on the move. The protection training for personnel was also given to 20 members of the National Civil Police who provide personal security to prosecutors from the National Civil Police. At the same time, members of the PNC receive continual training and practical training whilst working alongside international police investigators on criminal investigations at the Commission.

-Illegal Adoption: CICIG has monitored the implementation of recommendations included in the thematic report on "Actors Involved in the Illegal Adoption Process in Guatemala," published in December 2010 with the support of UNICEF funds. This work has materialized in various ongoing projects aimed at eliminating bad practices indentified during the investigation, such as: a) the creation of a technical committee between representatives of the Anti-human Trafficking Prosecutor's Bureau of the MP, the Attorney General of the Nation's Office (PGN) and the National Council for Adoption (CNA), along with the technical support of CICIG and UNICEF to monitor the resolution of unsolved international adoption cases; b) the support provided by CICIG to the PGN in order to create a draft organic law for the PGN, create profiles of their investigators and address methodological aspects of internal investigations to clean up the institution; and c) the creation of the extended regulations project of the CNA.