UNOCT Works on Enhancing Human Rights in the Investigations of Terrorist Cases in Iraq
The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT)’s Human Rights Unit and the UNOCT Baghdad Office, in partnership with the Office of the National Security Advisor (ONSA) of the Republic of Iraq, conducted two training workshops in September.
The first workshop, held from 1-2 September 2024, focused on the legal aspects of counter-terrorism investigations. Participants included legal experts, security forces’ legal advisors, lawyers from the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights (IHCHR), and counter-terrorism practitioners. The workshop explored the legal challenges and human rights norms relevant to investigations, emphasizing their integration into legal practices. The second workshop, held from 3-4 September 2024, aimed to enhance the practical application of human rights standards in counter-terrorism investigations by security professionals.
During the two workshops, 50 participants from various Iraqi entities convened to discuss best practices and address the intricate relationship between security and human rights within Iraq's counter-terrorism framework.
The workshops featured a presentation by the Iraqi National Committee on Counter-Terrorism highlighting its commitment to human rights compliance, while UNOCT underscored the importance of complying with human rights to successfully address terrorism. On its part, the Iraqi IHCHR underscored the commission's critical role in safeguarding human rights during terrorism-related criminal procedures.
Participants engaged in interactive discussions and working groups, sharing experiences and strategies to address challenges in their respective fields. The workshops also included:
- a discussion on the role of women in the counter-terrorism context;
- a presentation on the role of legal professionals in protecting individual rights in terrorism cases;
- an integrative session on human rights standards within the counter-terrorism context and the Iraqi legal framework.
These workshops were part of the project on "Human Rights and Counter-Terrorism: Capacity-building Support to Law Enforcement and Intelligence Services in Iraq", funded by the Government of Canada. The project, launched in 2023, aims to equip Iraqi law enforcement and intelligence agencies with the tools to integrate human rights into counter-terrorism work.
The project’s next steps will involve additional training dedicated to specific entities, roundtables on human rights in counter-terrorism, and the development of a trainer’s manual.
