The number of people arrested and detained for offenses related to terrorism and violent extremism is constantly increasing. In this context, prison administrations in West Africa face multiple challenges in terms of managing prisoners.
As a continuation of the capacity building activities carried out with the support of the Kingdom of Norway, the Research and Awareness Unit and the Justice Section of the Regional Office for West and Central Africa of UNODC gathered prison staff from the beneficiary States of the project on the prevention of violent extremism in prisons (Benin, Cote d'Ivoire, Togo, Senegal, and Guinea) in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, from November 24 to December 2, 2002. This regional meeting resulted in the training of trainers and the establishment of pilot units dedicated to risk assessment and classification of inmates in five prisons in the region.