25 February 2011 - UNODC has launched an interactive online learning platform on counter-terrorism for criminal justice officials. The platform will provide a unique gateway to a virtual community of practitioners with the aim of facilitating the exchange of information and practical advice and providing opportunities for such officials to participate in training courses to update and refine their skills.
The concept of the counter-terrorism learning platform stemmed from the success of the first online training courses on the international legal framework against terrorism, which were developed in 2008 and 2009 by UNODC and the DiploFoundation. In view of the positive feedback received from participants and the high number of requests made by Governments to develop that training format further, UNODC has developed its own online learning platform.
"I believe that this new online learning platform will help criminal justice officials worldwide in getting the necessary training and materials to confront terrorism cases. We will make every effort to continue to multiply our online courses so that they are accessible to as many practitioners as possible", said Cecilia Ruthström-Ruin, Chief of the Terrorism Prevention Branch at UNODC.
Although the online training will not replace standard workshops involving face-to-face interaction with participants, the new delivery method will provide significant added value to the global counter-terrorism efforts of UNODC. The courses are offered free of charge and those interested can apply through the registration process available on the login page of the platform. The interface of the platform is available in all six official United Nations languages.
The advantages of offering distance-learning activities include the sharing of UNODC expertise with a worldwide audience, greater inclusiveness of training through the elimination of barriers to participation as a result of time differences and geographical distance, the possibility for participants to study while working and significantly lower travel expenses.
UNODC is collaborating with Governments to make the platform more accessible to national institutions. The first online course, entitled "Global norms against terrorism at work: setting international law in motion", was presented last week in Algiers to trainee judges of the National High School for Judges and Prosecutors of Algeria. The course will run for six weeks.
A second training course, "International cooperation in criminal matters: a key tool in the fight against terrorism", organized jointly with INTERPOL, is also available and will be taught for the first time to selected criminal justice practitioners in the Sahel region (Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania and Niger) from 21 February to 1 April 2011.
The counter-terrorism learning platform will be officially unveiled in Vienna during the UNODC symposium "Taking stock and defining the way forward: strengthening the response to terrorism by addressing connections with related criminal activities " , to be held on 16 and 17 March 2011.
Go to the counter-terrorism learning platform
