Goal 2: Strengthening Security and Institutions

Goal 2: Strengthening Security and Institutions

Canada is concerned with increasing insecurity in many parts of the Americas and its negative effects on citizens in the region. At the same time, security and governance challenges in the region also pose direct and indirect threats to Canadians. The deteriorating security situation in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean has been of particular concern.

Canada has provided sought-after expertise to strengthen institutions and tackle transnational organized crime, including trafficking in illicit drugs, arms and persons.

To build on momentum towards our goal of strengthening security and institutions, Canada is:

  • Supporting efforts to improve security, especially in Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean;
  • Providing resources and training towards combatting transnational organized crime;
  • Sharing Canadian experience to strengthen institutions required for stability and growth;
  • Contributing to the rule of law, economic opportunity and long-term development in Haiti; and
  • Supporting economic opportunities, essential services and social development to improve long-term security.

Results

Since 2007, our increased focus has yielded strong results.  We have:

  • Invested over two billion dollars since 2008 through international assistance, multilateral contributions and security-focused programming to improve the region’s security and strengthen institutions that safeguard freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law;

  • Trained and mentored thousands of police, military and justice officials in Colombia, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean;

  • Helped improve the governance of the oil and gas sector, through a partnership between the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Regional Association of Oil and Natural Gas Companies in Latin America and the Caribbean (ARPEL);

  • Helped the Government of Bolivia increase its revenues from the hydrocarbon sector from US $550 million to US $2.2 billion between 2004 and 2010;

  • Supported fair and transparent elections throughout the Americas by contributing to over 45 electoral observation missions of the Organization of American States (OAS) since 2009 - most recently in Paraguay in April 2013;

  • Facilitated the registration of an additional 1.3 million voters in Bolivia;

  • Supported the registration of over 5 million Haitians on the civil registry, enabling them to access basic services, apply for credit, obtain title to property and vote;

  • Partnered with the Peruvian organization “Asociación Civil Transparencia” to provide training to five Peruvian political parties to better reflect citizen needs;

  • Helped tackle impunity in post civil conflict Central America through support to organizations such as Lawyers Without Borders Canada, the United Nations' Commission against Impunity in Guatemala, and the Honduran Truth and Reconciliation Commission;

  • Contributed to the upgrading of national emergency operations centres in 12 Caribbean states;

  • Launched an innovative Youth Anti-Violence campaign in El Salvador in partnership with the Central American initiative of Arts for development (EsArtes) and CUSO International;

  • Committed more than $1 billion  (2006-2012) to Haiti in such areas as security, the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti, rule of law, economic development, children and youth, governance and responses to humanitarian crises. Canada has also met its two-year commitment of $400 million to Haiti for post-earthquake reconstruction.

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