UNODC - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Objet publié

This project aims to strengthen the ability of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Belize to prevent, identify, investigate, and prosecute cyber-enabled and cyber-dependent crimes, including online child sexual exploitation and abuse. It seeks to address critical gaps in legislative frameworks, digital forensics, investigative procedures, interagency coordination, and public awareness. Through legal drafting assistance, specialized training for investigators, prosecutors, judges, and forensic analysts, the provision of investigative equipment, and the development of cyber-safety education for children and teachers, the project aims to establish a comprehensive, sustainable approach to combat cybercrime across the region. The phase I of this project established foundational cybercrime units, introduced initial training on digital evidence handling, and created early awareness-raising tools. Phase II seeks to expand and deepen this foundation by professionalizing the units created in phase I, broadening training to include advanced investigative techniques (such as cryptocurrency tracing and open-source intelligence), and institutionalizing processes through formal organizational manuals and standard operating procedures. It also seeks to enhance the prevention pillar launched in phase I by scaling outreach to children, educators, ministries of education, and community-level prevention units.