Member Countries reviewed the progress achieved, approved actions to strengthen the Work Plan, and transferred the Pro Tempore Presidency from Colombia to Ecuador.
Brasília, July 31, 2026 – The Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) held the IV Extraordinary Meeting of the Special Commission on Public Security and Transnational and Cross-Border Crimes (CESPIT) virtually on July 30. The meeting brought together representatives of the eight Member Countries to assess progress on the regional public security agenda and define priorities for the next working period.
During the meeting, Colombia, serving as the Pro Tempore Presidency, presented a report on the activities carried out between 2025 and 2026, highlighting the establishment of the technical subcommissions, the approval of their work plans, and the consolidation of a harmonized action matrix – tools that strengthen regional coordination to address security challenges in the Amazon.
One of the meeting’s main outcomes was the transfer of the CESPIT Pro Tempore Presidency from Colombia to Ecuador, which will lead the Commission’s work during the next term, ensuring continuity in actions aimed at strengthening cooperation among the Amazonian countries.
The meeting also reviewed progress in implementing the Commission’s Work Plan and the status of resource mobilization to support the planned activities. ACTO’s Permanent Secretariat presented a report on funded initiatives, those with funding potential, and those still requiring financial support, highlighting opportunities for cooperation through programs such as Living Amazon and other strategic partners to support in-person meetings, workshops, and joint actions.
As part of the decisions adopted, the Member Countries agreed to maintain Peru’s coordination of the Subcommission on Combating Environmental Crimes and Brazil’s coordination of the Subcommission on International Cooperation and Cross-Cutting Issues. Colombia also informed participants that it will assess whether to continue coordinating the Subcommission on Public Security once its governmental transition process has been completed.
During the deliberations, a proposal was also presented to develop a reference case on illegal mining in the Caquetá River Basin, with an emphasis on its impacts on Indigenous Peoples in voluntary isolation. The initiative will be examined by the countries within the framework of the Operational Coordination Subcommission.
In his opening remarks, ACTO Secretary General Martin von Hildebrand emphasized that public security in the Amazon requires a comprehensive approach based on cooperation among the Amazonian countries to address transnational threats affecting the region’s people, territories, and ecosystems.
A Strategic Mechanism for Amazon Cooperation
Created under the mandate of ACTO’s Member Countries, CESPIT serves as the primary regional coordination mechanism to promote cooperation in public security and to jointly address the transnational and cross-border crimes affecting the Amazon, including illegal mining, wildlife trafficking, environmental crimes, and other forms of organized crime.
The holding of this fourth extraordinary meeting reaffirms the commitment of the eight Member Countries to strengthening regional governance, technical cooperation, and the development of joint actions to protect the Amazon and contribute to the well-being and security of its populations.
