OEA - CP - Resolución CP CSH 2369

PERMANENT COUNCIL OF THE OEA/Ser.G

ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES CP/CSH-2369/26 30 January 2026

COMMITTEE ON HEMISPHERIC SECURITY Original: English

CONCEPT NOTE

STRENGTHENING POLICE COOPERATION IN THE HEMISPHERE:

THE ROLE OF REGIONAL MECHANISMS AND HORIZONTAL COOPERATION

(Presented in preparation of the Committee meeting scheduled for February 5, 2026, at 2:30 PM) This Concept Note is submitted in compliance with the provisions established in the Structure for the consideration of substantive issues during regular meetings (2025-2026) , document CP/CSH/INF. 602/25. Contents

BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION ....1

PURPOSE ....2

INITIATIVES LED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SECURITY OF THE

SECRETARIAT FOR MULTIDIMENSIONAL SECURITY ....3

GUIDING QUESTIONS FOR MEMBER STATES’ DELEGATIONS ....5

GUIDING QUESTIONS FOR PERMANENT OBSERVERS’ DELEGATIONS ....5BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION In recent years, police institutions across Latin America and the Caribbean have faced increasingly complex challenges stemming from multidimensional threats to public security. These include persistent citizen insecurity, transnational organized crime, armed violence, corruption, and the rapid expansion of cybercrime. Such dynamics place growing pressure on States to enhance both their operational and strategic capacities, underscoring the need for professional, effective police institutions grounded in respect for human rights and the rule of law. Despite the diversity of policing models in the region, common structural gaps persist. These include limited technical capacities, insufficient standardization of procedures, disparities in the quality and updating of training programs, weaknesses in internal control and oversight mechanisms, and unequal access to technology and modern management tools. Police institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean face significant challenges in ensuring adequate

initial and continuous training. In many countries, entry-level training curricula remain outdated or unevenly aligned with evolving security threats and international standards. Opportunities for specialized training are often limited, irregular, or dependent on external funding, restricting the ability of police personnel to update skills, adopt new methodologies, and respond effectively to emerging forms of crime such as cybercrime, transnational organized crime, and complex urban violence. In parallel, persistent gaps in equipment and infrastructure undermine operational effectiveness and institutional resilience. Many police organizations operate with insufficient or obsolete equipment, limited access to modern information systems, and inadequate facilities for training, logistics, and deployment. Deficiencies in infrastructure—such as poorly equipped academies, lack of simulation and tactical training spaces, and inadequate maintenance of police facilities—directly affect preparedness, safety, and service delivery. These constraints disproportionately affect resource-constrained institutions, widening inequalities across the region and highlighting the need for investment, technical assistance, and regional cooperation to strengthen police capacities in a sustainable and standardized manner. The urgency of addressing these challenges is further reflected in the region’s persistently high levels of lethal violence. According to UNODC data (2023), Latin America and the Caribbean records an average of 18 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants—more than three times the global average of 5.6 per 100,000—albeit with significant variation across subregions. This situation highlights enduring deficiencies in citizen security and reinforces the need to strengthen institutional capacities, enhance coordination, and promote effective mechanisms for regional and international cooperation. Moreover, the growing complexity and interconnection of public security threats require police institutions to adopt new operational logics and to transform their training and professional development processes. Policing must increasingly be guided by a multidimensional, citizen-centered approach that goes beyond reactive enforcement. Police education and training cannot be detached from the broader political and institutional transformations that have reshaped the region since the 1980s. As such, they must be anchored in democratic principles, including transparency, accountability, and citizen participation, and aligned with the values and standards of the democratic rule of law. Within this context, strengthening police training, institutional frameworks, and professional standards21980s. As such, they must be anchored in democratic principles, including transparency, accountability, and citizen participation, and aligned with the values and standards of the democratic rule of law. Within this context, strengthening police training, institutional frameworks, and professional standards2emerges as a strategic priority to enhance public security outcomes, reinforce legitimacy and public trust, and ensure that police institutions are better equipped to respond to both traditional and emerging threats in a rights-based and sustainable manner. The General Assembly of the Organization of American States has consistently reaffirmed that hemispheric security is multidimensional in nature and that strengthened cooperation among Member States, particularly in the field of public security and policing, is essential to effectively address current and emerging threats. In this regard, the General Assembly and the Committee on Hemispheric Security have emphasized the need to promote and strengthen police cooperation, including the exchange of timely information, operational coordination, capacity-building, and institutional development, in full respect for the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-intervention, and national legal frameworks. Transnational organized crime, illicit drug and firearms trafficking, trafficking in persons, cybercrime, and other complex criminal phenomena continue to evolve in scale, scope, and sophistication. Criminal organizations exploit jurisdictional boundaries, technological advances, and institutional asymmetries, which underscores the necessity of coordinated, sustained, and collective police responses at the hemispheric level. Within this framework, the General Assembly has mandated the General Secretariat, through the Secretariat for Multidimensional Security (SMS), to support Member States in strengthening public security policies and enhancing police cooperation. The Department of Public Security (DPS) plays a central role in implementing these mandates. A cornerstone of these efforts is the Inter-American Network for Police Development and Professionalization (REDPPOL), the principal hemispheric mechanism for police cooperation. REDPPOL serves as a platform to promote trust-building, facilitate the exchange of experiences and

good practices, strengthen professionalization, and support operational and institutional cooperation among police institutions of the Americas. REDPPOL operates through four complementary pillars: (i) education and training; (ii) horizontal and technical cooperation; (iii) a permanent network for the exchange of knowledge and experiences; and (iv) certification and quality management processes based on international standards. Despite important advances, Member States continue to identify challenges related to informationsharing, interoperability, institutional capacities, and the sustainability of cooperation mechanisms. The increasing use of digital technologies by criminal organizations further reinforces the urgency of strengthening hemispheric police cooperation. In this context, the Committee on Hemispheric Security provides an appropriate forum to exchange views, assess progress, and identify opportunities to further strengthen police cooperation in the Hemisphere, in line with General Assembly mandates. PURPOSE Promote dialogue within the Committee on Hemispheric Security on strengthening police cooperation in the Hemisphere, with particular emphasis on REDPPOL as the main OAS hemispheric mechanism for capacity building, professionalization, exchange of experiences and good practices and institutional3cooperation among police institutions of Member States. In addition, the initiative aims to identify concrete next steps to advance hemispheric police cooperation, including: (i) priority thematic areas for joint training and technical assistance; (ii) opportunities to strengthen standardization of practices and interoperability; (iii) mechanisms to enhance information-sharing, peer-to-peer exchanges, and international cooperation, as appropriate; and (iv) reinforce REDPPOL’s governance, sustainability, and linkages with other relevant hemispheric, regional, and international security initiatives. Ultimately, the dialogue will contribute to defining a shared roadmap for future cooperation, enabling Member States to collectively strengthen police capacities, institutional effectiveness, and public trust, while responding more effectively to evolving and multidimensional public security challenges in the Hemisphere. INITIATIVES LED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SECURITY OF THE SECRETARIAT FOR MULTIDIMENSIONAL SECURITY The DPS is working to strengthen police cooperation in the Hemisphere through targeted interventions designed to strengthen operational capacity and institutional performance. Its work prioritizes the delivery of specialized and advanced training, the provision of adequate equipment, the promotion of

INITIATIVES LED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SECURITY OF THE SECRETARIAT FOR MULTIDIMENSIONAL SECURITY The DPS is working to strengthen police cooperation in the Hemisphere through targeted interventions designed to strengthen operational capacity and institutional performance. Its work prioritizes the delivery of specialized and advanced training, the provision of adequate equipment, the promotion of excellence in police management, and the improvement of police infrastructure. Through these lines of action, DPS seeks to enhance professional standards, operational effectiveness, and organizational resilience, thereby contributing to improved public security outcomes and the strengthening of the rule of law in the Hemisphere. In line with this mission, the DPS, in collaboration with the Government of the Dominican Republic and the University of São Paulo (USP), implemented the Third In-Person Police Training Course of the Inter-American Network for Police Development and Professionalization from June 23 to July 17, 2025, in Santo Domingo. The course brought together 62 police officers (44 men and 22 women) from 28 countries across the Americas. Its objective was to enhance police professionalization through specialized modules, the exchange of best practices, and the strengthening of regional cooperation. The course was structured around seven key modules: trends in violence and crime in the Americas; society, the state, and the police; knowledge management in policing; leadership; transnational organized crime, cybercrime, and international police cooperation; and innovation in police reform. The curriculum was designed based on prior assessments and evaluations to address current law enforcement training needs effectively. The course was further enriched by 15 conferences delivered by international and national experts, promoting both knowledge transfer and practical learning. Beyond classroom instruction, participants attended a joint task force meeting at the National Police Headquarters and visited the National Emergency and Security System 9-1-1 facilities in Santo Domingo. The officers received their diplomas from both the University of São Paulo and the OAS. In parallel, the DPS is advancing excellence in police management through the adoption and certification of ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems in police institutions. To support this, has worked with the International Organization for Standardization to develop, adopt, and publish the

diplomas from both the University of São Paulo and the OAS. In parallel, the DPS is advancing excellence in police management through the adoption and certification of ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems in police institutions. To support this, has worked with the International Organization for Standardization to develop, adopt, and publish the Guidance for the Application of ISO 9001:2015 in Police Organizations (ISO 54002:2025), approved within the ISO framework. The Guidance is applicable to all types of police institutions—regardless of size, mandate, or operational scope—including police stations, border posts, penitentiary facilities, and civil defense agencies. DPS implements a comprehensive capacity-building approach that includes institutional certification under ISO 9001:2015 (54002:2025), technical assistance for system implementation, and targeted4training programs for police personnel. Particular emphasis is placed on training internal auditors to ensure institutional ownership, sustainability, and the expansion of quality management systems to additional processes. DPS is also fostering regional cooperation through workshops and forums that facilitate the exchange of good practices, lessons learned, and peer-to-peer learning among police institutions across Latin America and the Caribbean. To date, with support from the Government of Italy, 8 Member states and 9 police institutions have processes certified under the program and all Member states have benefited from the trainings and workshops. In Haiti, under the project “Improving the Haitian National Police’s Learning and Training Capacities to Combat Gang Violence,” supported by Canada, the DPS is working to strengthen the operational, tactical, and training capacities of the Haitian National Police (HNP) to counter gang-related violence and restore state authority in high-risk areas. The initiative combines infrastructure development, procurement of specialized equipment, and the delivery of scalable tactical training programs aligned with international standards and human rights principles. The training component includes an Instructor

Development Course to certify HNP instructors, twelve three-week Core Tactical Training iterations to train at least 360 officers, and Advanced Tactical Training modules for specialized operational roles. All training integrates International Humanitarian Law, human rights standards, and scenario-based exercises tailored to gang-violence contexts, while promoting regional police cooperation. In parallel, the EU-funded project “Enhancing the Operational Capacity of the Haitian National Police and the Gang Suppression Force through the Construction and Equipping of Forward Operating Bases and Mobile Control Capabilities in the West Department” addresses critical operational constraints by establishing a network of Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) supported by mobile Advanced Control Points (ACPs). This model strengthens territorial presence, reduces response times, and enables sustained operations in volatile areas by providing secure forward infrastructure, logistics, communications, and mobility. The project includes site assessment and refurbishment of FOBs, deployment of ACPs along strategic access routes, centralized logistics and supply systems, provision of tactical equipment and communications, and specialized training for HNP and Gang Suppression Force personnel. The DPS is implementing the project “Strengthening the capacities of the judicial and investigative systems to combat and reduce threats to public security in Ecuador”, with support of USINL. This project supports the National Police of Ecuador by strengthening the operational and forensic capacities of the National Directorate of Technical-Scientific Police Investigation through the acquisition of specialized equipment. It also reinforces the National Unit for Financial and Economic Crimes (UNDECOF), enhancing its logistical, operational, and technological capabilities to investigate and prosecute complex financial and economic crimes, thereby contributing to more effective law enforcement and judicial outcomes. Finally, within the framework of the Program to Support Efforts to Prevent, Investigate, and Counteract Criminal Activity Linked to the Exploitation of Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants, supported by Canada , the DPS developed three police manuals in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru on the safe

management of human mobility and the identification of human trafficking and migrant smuggling crimes. DPS also designed and conducted six national “train-the-trainer” events for more than 150 officials—including police, migration officers, and prosecutors—and replicated the training in the three countries, reaching over 2,630 officers. These efforts reaffirm the DPS’s pivotal role in supporting institutional strengthening and regional cooperation in law enforcement.- 5The meeting will provide an opportunity to present progress achieved to date and to discuss how these initiatives can be further strengthened and scaled through REDPPOL, contributing to a shared hemispheric approach to police professionalization, institutional development, and improved public security outcomes. GUIDING QUESTIONS FOR MEMBER STATES’ DELEGATIONS OAS Member States’ delegations are invited to deliver a 90-second intervention, guided by one or more suggested trigger questions: How does your country engage in hemispheric police cooperation, including through REDPPOL, and what results have been observed? What challenges or barriers has your country faced in implementing police cooperation or professionalization initiatives? What strategies or best practices have proven effective in promoting cross-border cooperation, knowledge exchange, and capacity-building among police institutions? How have initiatives such as REDPPOL training programs and ISO 9001:2015 certification processes contributed to strengthening police capacities, institutional effectiveness, and citizen trust? In which areas would your country most benefit from further technical assistance, peer-to-peer exchanges, or joint initiatives to enhance collective responses to public security challenges? How can REDPPOL better support small or resource-constrained police institutions in achieving professionalization and operational excellence? GUIDING QUESTIONS FOR PERMANENT OBSERVERS’ DELEGATIONS Permanent Observers to the OAS are invited to deliver a 90-second intervention, guided by one or more suggested trigger questions: Has your country or organization engaged in police cooperation initiatives with OAS Member States,

and in what form? How can Permanent Observers contribute to strengthening hemispheric mechanisms such as REDPPOL, support police professionalization, and promote innovation in training, technology, and quality management? What good practices or experiences from your country or organization could be shared to enhance regional cooperation, capacity-building, or operational effectiveness in police organizations? Which emerging security threats would benefit most from strengthened hemispheric police cooperation?