Ethiopia Embarks on Ambitious Crime Prevention Strategy to Tackle Financial Crimes
Addis Ababa - A New Era in Combating Financial Crimes
In a bid to reduce financial crimes in the country, the Ethiopian government has partnered with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to develop a comprehensive national crime prevention strategy. This initiative aims to tackle the root causes of crime, support at-risk groups and victims, and promote the reintegration of offenders.
A Comprehensive Approach
The strategy will go beyond traditional criminal justice approaches by incorporating prevention mechanisms such as:
- Economic integration measures
- Technology systems
- Community policing practices
A taskforce is leading the development of the strategy, consulting with various institutions with distinct expertise to ensure an inclusive and effective document.
Community Policing: A Key Component
Community policing has been introduced in Ethiopia, with successful experiences in preventing early marriage and domestic violence. Commander Dawit Afework of the Federal Police explained:
“Community policing is conceived to prevent crime through the participation of local communities. Local people know the causes of local problems and are best suited to assess situations and point to solutions.”
Focusing on Jobs, Start-ups, and Technology
The strategy will also focus on creating jobs and start-up businesses, as well as promoting technology systems to detect and curb financial crimes such as terrorism. Ms. Belen Teferi Taye of the General Attorney’s Office emphasized:
“Prosecution is not enough” in preventing crime, and that prevention mechanisms are necessary.
A Time-Bound and Cost-Effective Strategy
The taskforce aims to develop a time-bound and cost-effective strategy that will be implemented nationwide to tackle Ethiopia’s most pressing challenges. Mr. Gebremeskel Gebrewahed, senior researcher at the Justice and Legal Research System Institute, stated:
“After completing the strategy, it will be used all over Ethiopia to address the country’s most important issues.”
A Major Step Forward in Addressing Financial Crimes
The development of the national crime prevention strategy is seen as a major step forward in addressing financial crimes in Ethiopia, which has been grappling with issues such as money laundering and terrorism financing. With the support of UNODC, the government hopes to create a sustainable and effective approach to tackling these challenges.