illicit-trade-wco-2013

Official inauguration of the WCO Regional Dog Training
Centre in the Russian Federation by Mr. Vladimir Malinin,
Deputy Director General of Russia’s Federal Customs
Service and WCO Secretary General Mr. Kunio Mikuriya
Photo courtesy of Russia’s Federal Customs Service
Detection dog demonstration at the Forum in Moscow
Photo courtesy of Russia’s Federal Customs Service
THE SECOND GLOBAL
DOG FORUM
(28-29 May 2013, Moscow, Russia)
The Strategic Plan in the WCO Customs in the 21 st
Century document highlights the promotion of growth
and development by facilitating trade and enhancing
border security. To achieve these goals, the use of effective
technologies and tools requires human resource
management and training. Holding a workshop
with a focus on multidisciplinary dog and handler
teams is an ideal means of sharing specialized knowledge
and techniques in this professional area.
To achieve this objective, the first WCO Global Dog
Forum was convened at WCO Headquarters in
Brussels in January 2011, which was proved an excellent
platform for effectively sharing experiences in
the Customs canine domain.
Riding on the success of the first Forum, the Second
WCO Global Dog Forum was held in Moscow, Russia
from 28 to 29 May 2013. The Forum was officially
opened by Mr. Vladimir Malinin, First Deputy Head of
the Federal Customs Service of Russia and Mr. Kunio
Mikuriya, Secretary General of the WCO. The participants
actively exchanged views on various aspects of
the operation of canine centres and training programmes.
They agreed to set up a virtual working
group to promote cooperation and to develop common
standards for training programmes, as well as to
share perspectives on the establishment of WCO
Regional Dog Training Centres. To facilitate the exchange
of messages or information related to canine
training and detection in a completely secure manner,
the WCO launched the Canine CENcomm communication
platform in 2011.
The delegates agreed that the Forum is a useful platform
for exchange of professional knowledge in this
area and it should be an established event.
After the Forum, the participants were invited to attend
the inauguration of the WCO Regional Dog Training
Centre in Russia. They visited the facility, enjoyed a
demonstration by detector dogs and continued their
technical discussions on the spot. This is the fifth
WCO Regional Dog Training Centre to be opened
after the Centre in Hermanice in Czech Republic, in
Almaty (Kazakhstan), in Tashkent (Uzbekistan) and in
Ruili, Yunnan Province (China).
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