As growing evidence suggests that terrorist organizations are increasingly involved in kidnapping for ransom for the purpose of obtaining political concessions as well as financial benefits, particularly in the Middle East, North Africa and Sahel, and one month after the adoption of the latest United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2170 evoking this issue, the UNODC Terrorism Prevention Branch (UNODC/TPB) and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) joined forces to organize a two-day Mediterranean regional counter-terrorism expert workshop to address this urgent topic.
The workshop, entitled "Terrorist Kidnapping and Hostage-Taking: Enhancing the Implementation of the International Legal Framework against Terrorism" was held in Valletta, Malta, on 16-17 September 2014 and was attended by over 60 senior counter-terrorism practitioners in the areas of law enforcement, the judiciary and prosecution, as well as officials from foreign ministries and crisis management units, from OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation.
The event was the first to address the issue of terrorist kidnapping and hostage-taking (KFR) at the international level, following the adoption in January 2014 of UNSCR 2133, which set a milestone in the fight against terrorist kidnapping and hostage-taking.
Participants in this timely event concluded that ransom profits allow terrorist and criminal organizations to grow, recruit and buy weapons, thereby also impacting the security of these regions.
Discussions focused on understanding of international frameworks and recommendations related to KFR, with a particular focus on the recently adopted UNSCRs and challenges related to their implementation. The need for ensuring adherence to international human rights norms, and particularly respect for human rights of hostages and kidnapped persons was emphasized.
Existing mechanisms and channels for effective and timely exchange of counter-terrorism financial intelligence information, as well as experience in financial investigations in the Mediterranean region were likewise debated. Further discussions looked at experiences, lessons learned and practice in responding to KFR cases by specialized units, and prevention by early information-sharing processes, strengthening of public-private partnerships, public awareness campaigns, and assistance to victims and their families.
Participants agreed on the need to combine analytical and operational capabilities to understand the complex nature and interplay of the international legal provisions that can be applied to KFR cases to tackle this complex issue. Emphasis was also made on the need for enhanced information sharing and coordination mechanisms among specialized bodies at national, regional and international levels to act quickly and robustly.
Rich discussions provided an opportunity to share best practices, such as those reflected in the Global Counterterrorism Forum Algiers Memorandum, and to help identify areas where additional focus was needed. UNODC also made reference to its specialised legal training curriculum modules, and to the recently updated Guidance Manual on Countering Kidnapping and Extortion, originally developed by UNODC in 2006.
The workshop ended with UNODC vowing to continue its cooperation with OSCE in terrorism prevention, and to continue to follow the issue of KFR. In particular, UNODC/TPB expressed its commitment to working closely on this topic with all its partners, including the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) in view of the CTC Special Meeting on Kidnapping for Ransom and Hostage-Taking committed by terrorist groups, called for by UNSCR 2133.