From 16-18 November 2015, the UNODC Terrorism Prevention Branch (UNODC/TPB) brought 11 Iraqi law enforcement officials to Madrid to participate in a specialized workshop on the use of the Internet to investigate and prosecute terrorist cases. The event was delivered within the framework of Phase II of the project on strengthening the Iraqi legal regime against terrorism, which is generously funded by the Government of Japan. The workshop was a follow-up activity to another workshop, held jointly by UNODC/TPB and the Cyberterrorism Group of the Spanish Guardia Civil for Iraq, in Cairo, from 23-26 February 2015.
The main objective of this latest workshop was to facilitate the training of the Iraqi law enforcement officials on national, regional and international approaches, mechanisms, and good practices in preventing and suppressing the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes. The law enforcement officials represented the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service, National Intelligence Service, Ministry of Communications, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Justice, National Security Advisory, and the Supreme Judicial Council.
The participants were divided into two groups led by either the Spanish Guardia Civil, or the Spanish National Police. During the workshop, participants developed an in-depth knowledge on the issue at hand through the use of concrete cases. Participants were also exposed to good practices on investigative techniques for collecting information and evidence on social networks (Skype and Facebook, among others), as well as on challenges related to anonymous and encrypted Internet browsing. Extremely thorough and profound discussions and strong participant interaction occurred during the sessions, on all agenda topics. The Iraqi officials also shared their experiences and recited several relevant actual cases they were dealing with.
At the end of the workshop, experts and participants expressed their full appreciation of the activity and noted the commitment of all the participants to the workshop, and the quality of discussions with national participants and counterparts. The workshop was also considered highly relevant for the Iraqi national context, taking into consideration the multiple challenges and obstacles that the Iraqi authorities have been facing in the field of preventing the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes, as well as in investigating and prosecuting such cases.
Iraqi national authorities also highlighted urgent needs related to capacity building, legislation reforms, institutional developments, equipment provision, and regional cooperation on the monitoring and suppression of the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes. As such, UNODC/TPB will continue strengthening the knowledge and expertise of the Iraqi officials, possibly through providing advanced training jointly with the Spanish authorities and supporting national legislations and laws on aspects related to countering the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes.
From 16-18 November 2015, the UNODC Terrorism Prevention Branch (UNODC/TPB) brought 11 Iraqi law enforcement officials to Madrid to participate in a specialized workshop on the use of the Internet to investigate and prosecute terrorist cases. The event was delivered within the framework of Phase II of the project on strengthening the Iraqi legal regime against terrorism, which is generously funded by the Government of Japan. The workshop was a follow-up activity to another workshop, held jointly by UNODC/TPB and the Cyberterrorism Group of the Spanish Guardia Civil for Iraq, in Cairo, from 23-26 February 2015.
The main objective of this latest workshop was to facilitate the training of the Iraqi law enforcement officials on national, regional and international approaches, mechanisms, and good practices in preventing and suppressing the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes. The law enforcement officials represented the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service, National Intelligence Service, Ministry of Communications, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Justice, National Security Advisory, and the Supreme Judicial Council.
The participants were divided into two groups led by either the Spanish Guardia Civil, or the Spanish National Police. During the workshop, participants developed an in-depth knowledge on the issue at hand through the use of concrete cases. Participants were also exposed to good practices on investigative techniques for collecting information and evidence on social networks (Skype and Facebook, among others), as well as on challenges related to anonymous and encrypted Internet browsing. Extremely thorough and profound discussions and strong participant interaction occurred during the sessions, on all agenda topics. The Iraqi officials also shared their experiences and recited several relevant actual cases they were dealing with.
At the end of the workshop, experts and participants expressed their full appreciation of the activity and noted the commitment of all the participants to the workshop, and the quality of discussions with national participants and counterparts. The workshop was also considered highly relevant for the Iraqi national context, taking into consideration the multiple challenges and obstacles that the Iraqi authorities have been facing in the field of preventing the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes, as well as in investigating and prosecuting such cases .
Iraqi national authorities also highlighted urgent needs related to capacity building, legislation reforms, institutional developments, equipment provision, and regional cooperation on the monitoring and suppression of the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes. As such, UNODC/TPB will continue strengthening the knowledge and expertise of the Iraqi officials, possibly through providing advanced training jointly with the Spanish authorities and supporting national legislations and laws on aspects related to countering the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes.