As terrorism, organized crime and cybercrime become increasingly intertwined, government, police and industry leaders are meeting to identify a more effective path to meet these challenges.
The three-day (28 – 30 March) Unity for Security Forum is aimed at focusing the thoughts and efforts of ministers, police chiefs and the private sector on their roles and responsibilities in improving global security.
(TOP: President of the INTERPOL Foundation for a Safer World, Elias Murr speaks at the Unity for Security Forum. Photo: INTERPOL).
Discussions will be centred around seven INTERPOL projects – funded by a EUR 50 million contribution by the United Arab Emirates – focusing on counter-terrorism, cybercrime, cultural heritage, vulnerable communities, vehicle crime, drugs and illicit goods.
Areas for action within the projects include:
- The development of a new mobile application for police, customs and private collectors to check if a work of art has been reported stolen to INTERPOL;
- The creation of regional counter-terrorism nodes to assist member countries in the identification of terrorists, their travel and mobility, online presence, weapons, materials and finances;
- Identifying areas for increased cooperation with the private sector in combating vehicle crime, particularly in relation to ‘connected cars’;
- The establishment of a real-time information sharing and analytical platform enabling INTERPOL and authorized users worldwide to conduct research and analysis on cybercrime.
Training, capacity building and establishing specialist networks are part of all seven projects to maximize the exploitation of INTERPOL’s global reach and policing capabilities.
While opening the forum, Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE’s Deputy PM and Minister of the Interior underlined the UAE’s commitment to the success of the forum and urged delegates to support INTERPOL in its efforts to combat crime.
With INTERPOL’s role in global policing recognized by international and regional bodies such as the United Nations, the Gulf Cooperation Council, ASEAN, the African Union and the European Union, the world police body provides a unique platform to unite efforts in combating transnational crime threats and terrorism.
“The threats we face today are fast, mobile, self-reinforcing and interconnected, stretching and straining policing resources as never before,” said INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock.
“We are witnessing unprecedented complexity in our criminal and terrorist threat landscape which presents significant challenges to law enforcement.
“We need to better unite the efforts and streamline the processes between the public and private sectors. This forum provides the ideal environment for reassessing our respective roles and defining the path for enhanced cooperation in the future,” concluded the INTERPOL Head.
President of the INTERPOL Foundation for a Safer World, Elias Murr, insisted that security was an issue for all sectors.
“Terrorism has no religion, no country, no cause and no identity. The world, represented by every nation, state and religion, has no choice but to confront and eliminate terrorism,” said Mr Murr.
“Today, the time has come to take action and move as part of a new global strategy. The time has come for the world to shift from being reactive to proactive,” he concluded.
The Unity for Security is an INTERPOL forum organized in partnership with the Government of the UAE and the INTERPOL Foundation for a Safer World.
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