Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan join efforts to combat crime – qazinform.com

Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan Cooperation Agreement: Advancing Sustainable Development Goal 16

Introduction and Strategic Context

A bilateral agreement on cooperation in combating crime was formalized between Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan on October 10, 2024, in Ashgabat. This agreement establishes a critical regulatory framework for international cooperation, directly contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 16, which aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.

Alignment with SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The agreement is a significant measure to strengthen national and international institutions in line with SDG Target 16.a. By creating a formal structure for collaboration, both nations enhance their capacity to prevent violence and combat crime and terrorism. The scope of the agreement directly addresses several key targets within SDG 16.

Key Areas of Cooperation to Reduce Illicit Flows and Corruption

The document provides a comprehensive framework for addressing modern threats, thereby supporting specific SDG targets aimed at reducing illicit financial flows and corruption:

• Organized Crime, Terrorism, and Extremism: Directly addresses SDG Target 16.4 by committing to combat all forms of organized crime and reduce illicit financial flows that support such activities.
• Corruption and Economic Crimes: Supports SDG Target 16.5, which calls for a substantial reduction in corruption and bribery in all their forms.
• Cybercrimes: Addresses emerging threats to institutional stability and economic security, contributing to the overall goal of building strong and resilient institutions (SDG 16).
• General Crime Prevention: Offers a platform to expand cooperation, reinforcing the commitment to reducing all forms of violence and crime as per SDG Target 16.1.

Mechanisms for Implementation and Capacity Building (SDG 16.a)

Cooperation under the agreement is facilitated through several mechanisms designed to build institutional capacity and ensure effective implementation, reflecting the principles of SDG 16.a:

1. Execution of Mutual Requests: Streamlining legal and operational assistance to ensure justice is accessible and effective.
2. Exchange of Information: Sharing operational-search and forensic information to strengthen the capacity of law enforcement to combat transnational crime.
3. Professional Development: Exchanging specialists and providing assistance in training to enhance the professional competencies of law enforcement personnel, thereby building more effective institutions.

Commitment to Global Partnerships (SDG 17)

This agreement is part of Kazakhstan’s broader strategy of international cooperation, evidenced by similar agreements with over 20 countries, including Turkiye, Uzbekistan, France, and the UAE. This network of partnerships exemplifies a strong commitment to SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), recognizing that global challenges require collaborative international solutions to build a more peaceful and just world.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The primary Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) addressed in the article is:

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

  This goal is directly relevant as the article focuses on an international agreement between Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to strengthen law enforcement cooperation. The agreement aims to combat organized crime, terrorism, corruption, and cybercrime, which are all critical components of promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, providing access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s content, the following specific targets under SDG 16 can be identified:

1. Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.

   The agreement’s focus on combating “Organized crime, terrorism, and extremism” directly contributes to reducing violence and enhancing security within the signatory nations.

2. Target 16.4: By 2030, significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows, strengthen the recovery and return of stolen assets and combat all forms of organized crime.

   The article explicitly mentions combating “Organized crime” and the “financing” of terrorism, which aligns with the goal of reducing illicit financial flows and fighting organized criminal activities.

3. Target 16.5: Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms.

   The cooperation agreement specifically includes tackling “Corruption-related and economic crimes,” directly addressing this target.

4. Target 16.a: Strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation, for building capacity at all levels, in particular in developing countries, to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime.

   This target is central to the article. The entire agreement is a form of international cooperation designed to strengthen the capacity of law enforcement agencies. The article highlights methods such as “Exchange of operational-search and forensic information,” “Exchange of experience and specialists,” and “assistance in training and professional development of employees,” which are all capacity-building activities.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not mention specific quantitative indicators but implies several qualitative and process-based indicators that can measure progress:

• Existence of international cooperation agreements:

  The signing of the agreement itself is a primary indicator of progress towards Target 16.a. The article further notes that “Kazakhstan has signed similar agreements with more than 20 countries,” which serves as a broader indicator of the country’s commitment to international cooperation in combating crime.

• Implementation of cooperative activities:

  The mechanisms for cooperation listed in the article can be used as performance indicators. These include the number of “mutual requests” executed, the volume and quality of “operational-search and forensic information” exchanged, and the number of joint “training and professional development” programs conducted for law enforcement employees.

4. SDGs, Targets and Indicators Table

Source: qazinform.com