OSCE holds border and customs training on countering corruption

DUSHANBE, 23 November 2012 – Ways to prevent, detect and investigate internal corruption cases were examined at a training seminar at the OSCE Border Management Staff College that concluded today.

The anti-corruption training, held from 19 to 23 November, was organized in co-operation with the Borders Unit of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department and was attended by 26 senior-ranking border and customs officers from Armenia, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and the US.

Course modules focused on identifying types of corruption, motivating factors, risk assessment, preventative strategies and investigative skills. The course also examined the role of international and regional organizations in the fight against corruption.

“Countering corruption is a cornerstone for the democratic and sustainable development of any society. We aim to contribute to this process by enhancing the knowledge of our participants from 19 states, helping them exchange experiences and establish good working relations,” said Julia Klaus, Director of the OSCE Border Management Staff College.

The training was conducted by Peter Beyer, a former senior detective from the UK’s Scotland Yard and currently a Senior Organized Crime Adviser at the OSCE Mission in Kosovo.

“Students who successfully completed this course are equipped to design and implement anti-corruption strategies and proactively investigate incidences of organized corruption within their workplace,” said Beyer.