06/30/11 – A new national program designed to combat kidnapping in Mexico was approved today on June 30. The program, known as the National Program to Prevent and Sanction Kidnappings (Programa Nacional para Prevenir y Sancionar el Secuestro), was announced by Attorney General Marisela Morales during the 30th session of the National Security Conference (Sesión del Consejo Nacional de Seguridad).
Morales described the 7 main principles that provide the basis for this new program during her speech at the conference. According to Milenio, the main components seek to create professional unity among forces to target and disrupt criminal organizations; create a database of information on kidnappers that will assist in tracking and targeting suspects; increase citizen participation in preventing kidnapping and increasing the number of police officers responsible specifically for dealing with kidnapping; create guidelines to combat and deal with kidnapping; establish a nationwide policy for kidnappers to be imprisoned in maximum security facilities; reassert the country’s goal to continue fighting impunity; and provide the victims of kidnapping and their families with protection.
The Attorney General’s Office (Procuraduría General de la República) will be tasked with the program’s implementation and oversight.
Sources:
“Aprobaron programa nacional contra secuestros en México.” Univisión. June 30, 2011.
“El gobierno de México crea un programa nacional para combatir el secuestro.” CNN México. June 30, 2011.
