MP PROSECUTORS RECEIVE HUMAN TRAFFICKING TRAINING

Guatemala, November 11, 2011. Later this week, approximately 80 officials—including prosecutors from the Special Anti-impunity Prosecutor's Bureau, the Special Prosecutor's Bureau for Crimes against Life, the Anti-organized Crime Prosecutor's Bureau and officials of the National Civil Police—will complete a three-day training course on the investigation and criminal prosecution of human trafficking.

With the support of the German Cooperation and the under the management of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala planned a series of training courses to allow international experts to share their knowledge and experience with Guatemalan prosecutors and police officials. This training series is part of the support provided by CICIG to the Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP).

The training course is being given by Costa Rican lawyer Luis Fernando Centeno Muñoz, a specialist in organized crime reduction strategies, in particular smuggling and trafficking of persons. Centeno is an international consultant with expertise in the areas of organized crime reduction and human rights, with a special interest in human trafficking and migrant trafficking.

Moreover, he has imparted training courses on topics such as organized crime information analysis, criminal profiling, anti-kidnapping and antiterrorism techniques, techniques against drug trafficking and money laundering. He has also served as an FBI criminal profile and organized crime analyst.

The topics to be covered in the workshop include: origin, methodology, characteristics and phases of human trafficking; national and international human trafficking legislation; planning and development of a criminal investigation; and handling and protection of human trafficking victims.