Mexico: ICITAP Begins Courtroom Competency Training at Federal Attorney General's Training Academy

On March 11, ICITAP held an opening ceremony for the First Courtroom Competency Training Course for FY2024 being delivered to the Mexican Federal Attorney General’s Office (FGR). The 16 participants, including forensic experts, investigators, analysts and prosecutors, heard opening remarks from ICITAP-Mexico’s Deputy Law Enforcement Assistance Attaché and the Head of FGR Training before beginning their one-week course to improve skills for testifying before a court of law. This year’s training logistics will differ from 2023 as ICITAP has worked side by side with FGR to change the training location to FGR’s training academy at “La Muralla” in Queretaro. La Muralla is a modern training facility which includes meals and lodging for a complete experience for the participants which allows different justice sector actors an opportunity to network both inside and outside the classroom with colleagues who they may not otherwise have the chance to meet, strengthening the ability for the prosecutorial team to work together through the connections they make. The FGR has quite literally opened their doors to ICITAP cooperation and has expressed interest in further training on other topics led by ICITAP instructors. In the spirit of sustainability, they have also stated they are interested in a Train-the-Trainer program so that FGR instructors can continue to teach this important subject matter into the future. In Mexico, ICITAP works with the support of and in coordination with the U.S. Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).