Terrorism Prevention

The Terrorism Prevention Branch of UNODC is the division mandated by the General Assembly to lead the fight against terrorism. The key operational focus is aimed at strengthening the legal regime against terrorism - primarily done through providing awareness raising activities, legislative incorporation and drafting of counter-terrorism conventions' provisions into national law and technical assistance training in combating terrorism and its financing, as well as international cooperation in the fight against terrorism to Member States.

UNODC Southern Africa's project on Strengthening the Legal Regime against Terrorism in Southern Africa is the regional component of the global project of the same name. Whilst the latter commenced operations in January 2003 under the Terrorism Prevention Branch, the Southern Africa component was established in 2006. Through funding from donor countries the overall aim of the project is to provide specialized assistance to Member States in ratifying and implementing the universal legal instruments against terrorism. Within this, UNODC is instrumental in providing the broad framework for delivering technical assistance with respect to the substantive areas of the Agency's mandates, especially crime prevention and criminal justice.

Guided by the priorities set out by the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, the Economic and Social Council, the General Assembly and the Counter-Terrorism Committee of the Security Council, the project enables UNODC to respond promptly and efficiently to requests for counter-terrorism assistance.

On a global level, the Terrorism Prevention Branch has provided assistance to over 110 countries, allowing for lessons to be shared, legislative actions to be harmonized, and joint efforts initiated. UNODC Southern Africa and the Terrorism Prevention Branch are working in the 11 states from both a technical assistance reinforcement perspective, as well as to foster international, sub-regional and regional cooperation.

Overall, the 4 immediate objectives of the project are to:

  • Provide ongoing and sustainable support to requesting countries to achieve full and expeditious ratification of the 16 universal legal instruments against terrorism;
  • Strengthen national expertise and capacity of requesting Governments to develop and apply the domestic legislation required for the effective implementation of the universal legal instruments against terrorism;
  • Strengthen international cooperation in criminal matters pertaining to terrorism; and
  • Strengthen collaboration on legal aspects of counter-terrorism between UNODC/TPB and sub-regional, regional and international organizations.