Pretoria (South Africa), 26 September 2024 – From 24 to 26 September 2024, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) hosted a regional workshop on the effective incorporation and implementation of counter-terrorism legislation.
UNODC organized the activity in collaboration with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union’s Counter Terrorism Centre and with support from Japan.
The workshop brought together senior criminal justice officials, including investigators, prosecutors, members of the judiciary, and legal reform bodies from six SADC member states – the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia.
Participants discussed challenges in the implementation of robust counter-terrorism legislation, shared best practices for prosecuting terrorism-related crimes within their countries, and discussed legislative reform avenues to enhance the investigation, prosecution, and adjudication of terrorism-related crimes.
During the three-day event, experts also explored ways to enhance regional cooperation to counter terrorism, focusing on strengthening legal frameworks and aligning national legislative responses with international legal standards.
Notably, the event aimed to help participants take stock of the United Nations legal framework on counter-terrorism and to develop and revise legislation to counter violent extremism in line with human rights.
The discussions underscored the need for a comprehensive, human rights-compliant approach while countering terrorism, which includes cross-border investigations, regional cooperation, and the use of new technologies in gathering electronic evidence based on human rights and the rule of law.
Sogo Jikuhara, representing the Embassy of Japan in Mozambique, emphasized Japan’s commitment to strengthening security cooperation across borders, particularly in Mozambique's Cabo Delgado province.
Cabo Delgado, located in northern Mozambique, has been severely affected by terrorism since 2017, resulting in thousands of casualties and displacing hundreds of thousands of people.
Japan's “strengthening connectivity” strategy, highlighted during the 2024 Tokyo International Conference on African Development– TICAD Ministerial Conference, underscores the importance of regional cooperation to effectively combat terrorism.
Participants left the workshop with a clearer understanding of the fundamental role national legislation plays in countering terrorism and violent extremism, as well as the importance of cross-border cooperation in addressing the transnational nature of these threats.
The event’s outcome recommendations and collected best practices will help inform national policy-making and strengthen regional responses to terrorism in Southern Africa, with a continued focus on enhancing criminal justice capacity and cooperation between member states.
This workshop marked a critical step towards bolstering criminal justice, rule of law-based responses against the threat of terrorism in the region, building a safer and more resilient Southern Africa and ensuring peace and stability.
UNODC acknowledges the generous support of Japan in carrying out this regional workshop.