From 10 to 12 November 2014, UNODC Terrorism Prevention Branch (UNODC/TPB) and the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (NPA) co-organized a national workshop in Hyderabad, India, within the framework of the UNODC/TPB train-the-trainer initiative.
The event was a follow-up to the previous workshop that took place in India in July 2014, during which UNODC/TPB trained judges, prosecutors, faculty members of the NPA and judicial academies on key thematic areas in counter-terrorism. Six Indian officials (i.e. four NPA faculty members and two judges) were selected to act as trainers under the guidance of UNODC/TPB experts during the November workshop. The event was attended by 29 officials from throughout India, representing the faculties of training academies, the judiciary, investigation and prosecution services. The global legal framework against terrorism, as well as specific thematic areas related to counter-terrorism, such as international cooperation in criminal matters, countering the financing of terrorism and the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes, were addressed through presentations and working group discussions. Two guest speakers from the National Investigation Agency, a key Indian agency charged with the investigation and prosecution of terrorism cases, also gave presentations.
The participants recognized the workshop's strong relevance to the needs of the entities they represent, expressed support to the train-the-trainer concept and their readiness to share the skills and knowledge acquired during the workshop by organizing formal training for their colleagues. Following this success, the NPA is planning to hold three more workshops in 2015 on terrorism prevention related issues, including on investigative techniques in terrorism cases while respecting human rights, two of which will be conducted by the Indian trainers and fully funded by NPA. This illustrates a successful incorporation of the UNODC/TPB training content into the curricula of the Indian National Police Academy.