INTERPOL Foundation for a Safer World

The Foundation supported seven INTERPOL projects

 

The INTERPOL Foundation for a Safer World was established in October 2013 as a not-for-profit organization headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

Its mission was to engage governments and companies to support INTERPOL’s work in building a safer world by raising awareness, creating and developing partnerships, and conducting fundraising campaigns.

A cooperation agreement established the legal framework of collaboration for the Foundation to support INTERPOL in implementing its global activities to assist its member countries.

The Foundation was dissolved in November 2023, having successfully supported seven INTERPOL initiatives by donating EUR 50 million as part of a contribution agreement between the Foundation and the Government of the United Arab Emirates.

Legal basis

The INTERPOL Foundation for a Safer World was established in Geneva in accordance with Articles 80 et seq. of the Swiss Civil Code, and registered with the Register of Companies of the canton of Geneva.

H.E. Elias Murr, former Deputy Prime Minister of Lebanon, was the President of the Board of Trustees, and HSH Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco, was the President of the Honorary Board. 

In June 2023, INTERPOL’s Executive Committee supported the decision of the President of the Foundation and the General Secretariat to terminate the revised cooperation agreement as its objectives had been achieved.

On 28 September 2023 the Swiss Federal Supervisory Authority issued a decision on the dissolution and liquidation of the INTERPOL Foundation for a Safer World under Swiss law.

On 30 November, this item was presented to the 91st session of the INTERPOL General Assembly which took note of the completion of the seven projects funded by the Foundation, the termination of the revised cooperation agreement between INTERPOL and the Foundation, and the dissolution of the Foundation.

Overview of the seven projects

1. Global Counter-Terrorism Initiative

INTERPOL developed a five-year Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy to maximize the use of its policing capabilities. This project aimed to establish the necessary infrastructure to help INTERPOL member countries effectively tackle transnational terrorist activities.

2. Project against Illicit Drug Trafficking

INTERPOL developed Project AMEAP (Africa, Middle East, Asia Pacific) in order to help national authorities to identify security threats and confront organized crime groups involved in illicit drug trafficking in these regions through the adoption of a cross-border, operational approach with INTERPOL leading the coordination.

3. Cybercrime Information Sharing and Real-Time Analytics Platform

INTERPOL’s Strategy to Combat Cybercrime addresses “pure cybercrime”, in other words, crimes which target computer and information systems. The overarching goal of the project was to create a technology platform to improve INTERPOL’s capacity to obtain, analyse, and disseminate actionable cyber intelligence.

4. Combating Migrant Smuggling, Human Trafficking, and Online Child Sexual Exploitation

INTERPOL’s project to protect vulnerable communities was aimed at identifying and disrupting criminal networks engaged in migrant smuggling, human trafficking, and online child sexual exploitation, taking into consideration the initiatives of other regional bodies in these areas to coordinate and harmonize their respective efforts.

5. Protecting Cultural Heritage

To further bolster the Organization’s efforts to protect cultural heritage, INTERPOL has greatly improved the functionalities of the Stolen Works of Art (WOA) Database by making it accessible via the very first INTERPOL mobile application which is freely accessible not only to police forces, but also to authorized public and private entities. The project also delivered training courses for INTERPOL NCBs, customs officials, and other users on proper data entry, conducting data searches, and generating and retrieving statistics.

6. Reducing Vehicle Crime

INTERPOL’s Stolen Motor Vehicles (SMV) project aimed to establish INTERPOL as a leading authority and resource in the fight against transnational vehicle crime, working closely with existing partners, international organizations, and insurance associations to improve the expertise that it provides to member countries.

7. Preventing Trafficking in Illicit Goods and Medical Products

The goal of INTERPOL’s Illicit Markets Project was to provide support to member countries to dismantle the organized crime networks behind the manufacture, distribution, and sale of illegal goods, including specific activities with a regional and global focus.