Notwithstanding the recent dramatic security developments in Iraq and difficulties with the implementation of capacity building activities for Iraqi officers, the Terrorism Prevention Branch of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC/TPB), in close coordination with its Iraqi counterparts, organized a successful national workshop on investigating, prosecuting and adjudicating terrorist offences in Amman, Jordan, from 26 to 28 August 2014.
Eighteen Iraqi participants with first-hand experience in conducting investigations, prosecutions and trials of terrorist cases attended the workshop. They were joined by seven international experts, respectively from Germany, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Spain, and the United States of America.
In this three-day workshop, based on the UNODC/TPB Digest for Terrorist Cases, several experiences and challenges along with concrete cases and real-life examples on the different topics of the agenda were presented. The agenda included the following topics: the criminalization and prosecution of preparatory offences, intelligence and investigation approaches to prevent and disrupt terrorist acts, the prevention and repression of the financing of terrorism, conducting complex investigations, strengthening collaboration between investigators and prosecutors, use of intelligence as an evidence in counter-terrorism trials, conducting cross-border investigations. The workshop concluded with an open discussion on the way forward and explored ways in which mechanisms and practices highlighted by the experts could be adapted to the Iraqi system.
The security developments in Iraq were referred to by participants and discussions also focused on how to effectively addressed the new terrorism challenges. In particular, participants and experts exchanged views on possible legal and judicial approaches to address the challenge posed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, including on the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2170 (2014).
All the participants agreed on the key role that UNODC/TPB could continue to play in supporting Iraq with legal assistance and capacity building training.
The workshop is a part of a Plan of Action established between the Government of Iraq and UNODC/TPB and it is financed by the Government of Japan. Several additional specialized technical assistance activities are foreseen for Iraq as part of the Global Programme on Strengthening the Legal Regime against Terrorism of UNODC/TPB for 2014-2015.
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