Supporting Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Countries to Strengthen Rule of Law-based Criminal Justice Response for Preventing and Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism
51³Ô¹Ï Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee/Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTC/CTED)
Southern Africa Development Community (SADC)
African Union¡¯s Centre for Studies and Research on Terrorism (CAERT)
Synopsis
Objectives
The project aims to strengthen SADC countries¡¯ understanding and capacity to undertake rule-of-law-based criminal justice measures for preventing and countering terrorism and violent extremism.
Components
Legislative workshop for the review of national counter-terrorism legal provisions in light of the international legal framework against terrorism, ongoing legislative advisory support, national training workshops on the rule- of-law-based investigation and prosecution of terrorism and its financing-related offences, on how to investigate and prosecute preventive offences, with an emphasis on offences associated with foreign terrorist fighters and on countering the use of the Internet for terrorism purposes; and regional workshops on cross-border cooperation regarding criminal justice measures against terrorism and violent extremism.
Main achievements
The project provided capacity-building training and legislative and policy advice to 300 participants from the region , including 55 female participants, through one regional workshop, eight capacity-building workshops, four legislative, policy and technical advisory activities, and the provision of specialized counter-terrorism equipment and training material on counter-terrorism matters.
This assistance included providing specialized practical training on promoting inter-agency cooperation, respecting human rights and the rule of law, addressing preventive offences, countering the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes, the financing of terrorism and the phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters (FTF), and enhancing international cooperation to obtain digital evidence from foreign jurisdictions. The project also provided legislative, policy and technical expertise to guide the development of national counter-terrorism entities, legislation, policy and strategy for Botswana, DR Congo, Lesotho, and Mozambique.
Finally, the project also enhanced intra-regional dialogue, knowledge, and cooperation through the organization of a regional workshop for SADC Member States, organized in collaboration with AU/CAERT and the SADC Secretariat on the role of the criminal justice system and the importance of international cooperation in preventing and countering terrorism and violent extremism.
Impact
The project built the capacity of SADC Member States to counter and prevent the growing terrorism threat facing the region and of criminal justice officials from SADC Member States to counterterrorism and prevent violent extremism, addressing the growing terrorism threat facing the region, including the Islamic State Central African Province. The project has laid an important foundation for supporting the SADC region to respond to the emerging threat of terrorism and violent extremism. As terrorism is a relatively new threat facing Southern Africa, this project delivered important skills and knowledge to criminal justice officials in the region who are newly dealing with these challenges.