As men and women are differently involved with and affected by terrorism, the international community increasingly recognizes the need for a gender-responsive approach to preventing and countering terrorism, as reiterated in the eighth review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (A/RES/77/298).
In response to these calls, UNODC has continued to support mainstreaming gender in all stages of its counter-terrorism technical assistance programming. As part of these efforts, UNODC delivered a workshop on the investigation and prosecution of terrorist financing for 25 women magistrates from the courts and tribunals, the Agence Nationale de Gestion et de Recouvrement des Avoirs Saisis ou Confisqués (ANAGRASC), as well as for female investigators from the Anti-Terrorist and Organized Crime Brigade and the National Intelligence Agency in Koudougou, Burkina Faso on 22-26 September 2024.
The training was officially opened by the Cellule Nationale de Traitement des Informations Financières (CENTIF) representing the Government of Burkina Faso through the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
The event allowed for exchanges between experts and practitioners on different sources of terrorist financing and the tools and legal frameworks needed to repress them. Furthermore, practical exercises were held through which eight investigators and magistrates dealing with terrorism cases contributed to and were able to improve techniques related to interviewing and treatment of victims.
The training allowed participants to identify good practices to be integrated in and strengthen judicial processes during court proceedings, as well as guarantee the rights of witnesses and victims, especially women, affected by terrorist groups.
The event led to the development of concrete proposals and commitments to improve processes related to the investigation and prosecution of terrorist financing, namely supporting regular meetings between investigators of the counter-terrorism brigade and judges; addressing financing offences in all terrorism cases; and systematically involving other national agencies in investigations related to terrorism. In fact, at the end of the workshop, one investigator commented “every time I have a terrorism case, I will simultaneously conduct a financial investigation.”
The workshop was evaluated positively by participants who considered the training highly relevant to their work. They recognized the different impact of terrorism and its financing on men, women, young people, and children. They also highlighted the importance of the contributions of a diverse group of actors within the penal chain to effectively mainstream gender in criminal justice responses to terrorism.
One participant also reported having better understood the importance of human rights compliance, especially for alleged perpetrators of terrorist acts. Two others spoke about the importance of securing evidence from different agencies, as well as taking into account the vulnerabilities of women and minors.
During the event, UNODC noted “the importance for women in the criminal justice system to place themselves at the centre of the fight against the financing of terrorism and to inspire other women specialized in countering terrorism financing.”
The workshop was implemented with funding from the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund and aimed at strengthening national capacities to prevent and counter terrorist financing threats. One of the project’s aims is to strengthen the skills of women within the penal chain in countering terrorism financing to ensure a more inclusive judicial system in Burkina Faso and, ultimately, a more holistic judicial response to terrorism.
