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Enhancing criminal justice responses to terrorism in Viet Nam


Hanoi (Viet Nam), 15 October 2010
- Viet Nam might not be the first country that comes to mind when the word "terrorism" is mentioned. But like States all over the world, Viet Nam knows that the unpredictability of terrorist attacks means that steps need to be taken now to prevent attacks in the future.

On 17 September, the Government of Viet Nam and UNODC discussed ways in which they could strengthen Viet Nam's criminal justice capacity to prevent terrorism. Representatives of several ministries and government entities, including the Supreme Court, met with UNODC officials in Hanoi to examine a proposal for countering terrorism focused on the criminal justice system.

Ms. Zhuldyz Akisheva, UNODC Country Manager for Viet Nam noted that the proposal advocates for the implementation of the universal legal instruments against terrorism, in the framework of the One UN Initiative in Viet Nam. Mr. Nguyen Manh Dong from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed his Government's desire to work closely with UNODC in achieving such implementation.

Another major goal, said George Puthuppally, UNODC Senior Programme Coordinator for Counter-Terrorism, would be "to assist the Government in building the expertise and skills of national officials on the prevention, investigation, prosecution and adjudication of serious crimes, such as the financing of terrorism, that facilitates and leads to terrorist incidents".

In the past, the Government of Viet Nam and UNODC have worked together to establish a counter-terrorism legal framework. The proposed programme, which would last three years, is expected to reinvigorate those efforts.

The specific counter-terrorism assistance plans that UNODC has in Viet Nam are a major element of the Office's overall proposal for an East and South-East Asian partnership on criminal justice responses to terrorism. UNODC seeks to implement this proposed programme in collaboration with the countries of the region, regional organizations, training institutions and donor countries.