The UNODC Terrorism Prevention Branch, in collaboration with the UNODC Country Office in Afghanistan, organized a national training workshop on strengthening criminal justice mechanisms to counter improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The workshop was held in Kabul on 8 and 9 June 2015.
Fifty senior officials from Afghanistan's various agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), Ministry of Justice, Anti-Terrorism Prosecution Directorate, Attorney General's Office, Counter-Terrorism Department of the Ministry of Interior, Counter Terrorism Division of the Supreme Court, Legislative Committee of the Parliament (Upper House), National Directorate of Security, Afghan Atomic Energy High Commission, Afghanistan's Independent Human Rights Commission, Afghanistan's Independent Bar Association, Central Department of Customs, border police, as well as representatives from delegations of the international community based in Kabul, were in attendance.
The workshop aimed to enhance the knowledge and skills of participants to effectively prevent, investigate, prosecute and adjudicate terrorist offences involving IEDs within the applicable international legal framework, including relevant international conventions and United Nations Security Council resolutions. It also increased the capacity of national authorities to engage in both regional and international cooperation in this regard.
In addition to presentations on countering the financing of terrorism and IEDs, the treatment of victims of IEDs and good practices for countering IEDs, the workshop promoted inter-agency collaboration initiatives to reduce the risks of diversion of explosives and their precursors for terrorist purposes. It also supported the revision of Afghanistan's legislation related to control mechanisms on explosives, as well as relevant criminal and procedural legislation in line with international standards and in accordance with the rule of law.
At the closing ceremony, the Chief of Staff of the Office of the First Lady Ms. Ghani emphasized the importance of continuing bilateral cooperation on countering terrorism in Afghanistan and the region. The Director-General of the Anti-Terrorism Prosecution Directorate of the Attorney General's Office, representatives of the MoFA and members of the Counter-Terrorism Committee expressed their appreciation for UNODC assistance.
The workshop was implemented within the framework of the 2014-2016 Joint Plan of Action for technical assistance activities between the UNODC Terrorism Prevention Branch and the Government of Afghanistan to support their efforts in the area of preventing and combatting terrorism.