Coffey International Limited awarded USD$66.3 million USAID Rule of Law Project in Mexico

(3 July 2009) A Coffey International Limited company, MSI, based in the United States, has been awarded a five-year, USD$66.3 million rule of law project funded by USAID/Mexico. Rule of Law III: Support for Legal Reforms is the third USAID-funded initiative of its kind, in support of the Merida Initiative, which aims to prevent and eradicate organized crime.

The project will work with state and federal justice institutions to strengthen their capacity to improve transparency, public oversight and public accountability to better serve Mexican citizens under the new constitutional reforms that shape the police and criminal procedure codes.

MSI will support Mexican-led efforts to improve the justice system, professionalise law enforcement and reduce human trafficking and human rights abuses. MSI will also support efforts to increase public oversight through policy reforms, specialised training, technical assistance, public outreach, and exposure to successful strategies and programs.

Ultimately, these efforts will help bring Mexico in line with the global standards set forth in the U.N. and Inter-American Conventions in support of justice reforms and against corruption.

This project follows on the heels of an earlier MSI project, PRODERECHO, also funded by USAID. That 3-year project improved the transparency and fairness with which criminal disputes are resolved, increased confidence in the rule of law, improved adherence to due process, and increased protection of citizen rights.

-ends-

Investor and media contacts:

Brigitte Claney at Mendleson Communication
P: (+61) (3) 9827 0422; M: (+ 61) 412 189 558; E: brigitte@mendleson.com.au