The Austrian Federal Minister of Interior, Dr Maria Fekter, was welcomed at the INTERPOL General Secretariat headquarters by Secretary General Noble before a meeting which saw the signing of a memorandum of agreement between INTERPOL and Austria on the establishment of the International Anti-Corruption Academy in Austria. The Austrian minister also took part in a briefing on high-tech crimes and visited INTERPOL’s Command and Co-ordination Centre (pictured below).

The purpose of the academy will be to ensure the provision of anti-corruption education and professional training for police officials and the private sector. Drawing on the experience of law enforcement, the academy – which will also be partnered by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime – will produce experts in the international fight against corruption. It will also work with other international bodies and universities to provide vital research on effective anti-corruption strategies, legislation and preventative measures.

“In order to effectively combat corruption it is important to raise the status of anti-corruption activities and to promote academic excellence against corruption. Austria is therefore pleased to have signed this agreement with INTERPOL on the Academy which will contribute to international initiatives against corruption and professionalize anti-corruption work,” said the Austrian Federal Minister of Interior during the visit which formalized INTERPOL as the Academy’s implementing agency.

In this respect, INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K. Noble said that the Academy would be ‘vital in setting global standards and best practices’ in working with international law enforcement and organizations to advance professional standards on anti-corruption work.

“The partnership between INTERPOL and the Austrian authorities will ensure that the Anti-Corruption Academy possesses the most advanced training methods and innovative research in a cutting-edge learning environment,” said INTERPOL Secretary General Noble.

“Working together towards a corruption-free world by promoting and defending integrity, justice and the rule of law will serve the cause of law enforcement worldwide,” said the head of INTERPOL in reference to the world police body’s network of 187 member countries.

Also high on the agenda during the Austrian minister’s visit was identifying areas to enhance mutual collaboration against transnational organized crime, in particular trafficking in human beings and international child sexual exploitation.