29th Nov - 1st Dec 2015, Djibouti- The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Security Sector Program (SSP) in partnership and collaboration with Global Counter Terrorism Forum (GCTF) organized a three (3) days training in Human Rights and Counterterrorism as a Good Practice in Investigation and Prosecution of Terrorism Cases in the Horn and Eastern Africa Region.
The background of this training workshop was informed by the fact that Post-September 11, 2001 international system has witnessed intensified efforts to counter global threats posed by terrorism and violent extremism. The heightened security measures taken by states have been seen by critics of counter-terrorism strategies as posing a risk to some of the fundamental rights and freedoms as enshrined in the principle of respect for human rights.
Officials from Institutions such as the National Intelligence Services, law enforcement agencies, Directorate of Public Prosecutions, Immigration, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs were in attendance. Regional and International experts made presentations and shared their experiences with the participants to enrich the overall objective of the workshop.
Discussions, case studies and practical exercises on the following topics and more were carried out over the course of the three days to enable participants share experiences of their respective countries:
- Human Rights Legal Regimes that Relate to Counter-Terrorism
- Human Rights and Counter-Terrorism Investigation Techniques
- Detention of Terrorists Suspects and Human Rights
- Prosecution of Terrorism Offences and Human Rights
- Trial of Terrorism Suspect
- Rights of Victims of Terrorist Attacks
- Punishment of Terrorist Offences and Human Rights
- Criminal Justice: Why Respect Human Rights in Response to Terrorism?
- Evidence Collection, Surveillance and Human Rights
The workshop was officially closed by handing out certificate of participation. (END)