Challenges and Efforts in Cabo Verde

Cabo Verde faces several key challenges related to crime and security, including:

Transnational Organized Crime (TOC): The country is vulnerable to TOC activities such as money laundering and drug trafficking.
Excessive Use of Force: There are concerns about the excessive use of force by law enforcement officials.

The economic and financial environment in Cabo Verde poses several challenges, including:

Informal Sector: The significant informal sector contributes to a lack of transparency and increases the risk of money laundering.
Vulnerabilities: The country’s location as a transit point for narcotics exposes it to vulnerabilities related to money laundering and associated criminal activities.

Civil society in Cabo Verde remains active, particularly in prevention efforts. However, there has been a decline in press freedom over the years:

Victim Identification: The government has implemented measures to identify and protect victims of trafficking.
Community Reporting: There are still challenges in encouraging community reporting and testimony.

The Cabo Verdean government is taking several steps to address these issues, including:

Community Policing: The National Police is implementing community policing strategies to combat crime and enhance public safety.
Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Measures: While Cabo Verde is not currently considered to have significant AML deficiencies, there are still gaps in its AML framework and systems that need to be addressed.
Victim Protection: The government has implemented measures to identify and protect victims of trafficking, including the adoption of standard operating procedures for victim identification.
Prevention of Human Trafficking: The government’s programme focuses on training the police to combat TOC effectively and collaborating with international organizations to protect citizens, prevent trafficking, and support victims.