Belmopan. November 8, 2019. Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security Hon. Elodio Aragon Jr. returned to the country after attending a series of meetings, including the Seventh Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Public Security in The Americas (MISPA VII) in Quito, Ecuador. The meeting, which was organized by the Organization of American States (OAS), was held from October 30th to 31st.
Topics addressed at the meeting included transnational organized crime, acts that threaten and undermine democracy, and human rights issues. The purpose was to promote regional cooperation among member states of the OAS in an effort to deal with these problems collectively.
At the end of the conference, all parties committed to consolidation, strengthening international cooperation in public security, while voicing concern about the violent events occurring in the region. These include acts which undermine democratic institutions and have resulted in the disruption of public order through pillaging, unrest, and the destruction of public and private property, without prejudice to the legitimate right to demonstrate and to protest in accordance with the law.
The ministers consequently declared their opposition to said acts of violence, crime and insecurity, including those perpetrated as an organized attack on peace. They further reiterated their support for democratic institutions, the rule of law, human rights, the right to freedom of expression, assembly, demonstration, and protest. Additionally, the ministers underscored the importance of boosting actions to prevent, confront, investigate and prosecute those criminal activities and conspiracies to commit crimes which threaten public security.
The ministers also declared a rejection of any form of violence and called for guarantees to protect the integrity and human rights of all persons. Dialogue was considered as the best mechanism for settling of disputes.
The next MISPA will be hosted in El Salvador in 2021.
Ends
