Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs William R. Brownfield will visit Honduras March 17-18, and Costa Rica March 18-20. He will meet with senior officials and civil society leaders to discuss citizen security cooperation under the Department of State’s Central America Regional Security Initiative (CARSI).

During his visit to Honduras, Assistant Secretary Brownfield is expected to meet with Honduran First Presidential Designate María Antonieta Guillen de Bogran and cabinet officials to discuss justice sector capacity-building and citizen security. Assistant Secretary Brownfield and the Government of Honduras will inaugurate the Major Crimes Task Force (MCTF), a new initiative to better support police and prosecutors investigating serious crimes in Honduras. The United States will commit up to $6 million in CARSI assistance for the MCTF. Assistant Secretary Brownfield also plans to visit the Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT) youth program and meet with civil society groups to discuss human rights and civilian security.

In Costa Rica, Assistant Secretary Brownfield will meet with several Costa Rican officials, including Minister of Governance, Police, and Public Security Mario Zamora and Vice Minister of the Presidency Mauricio Boraschi. The meetings – plus a site visit to a local police station – will highlight Costa Rican commitment to justice sector reform and police modernization. In addition, Assistant Secretary Brownfield is expected to announce increased joint efforts to involve civil society in security, including the launch of a civil society partnership to expand services for victims of sexual assault.