The European Union, UNODC, and CTED partner to support Nigeria to manage individuals associated with Boko Haram

BMUSONI — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 21:58:00 +0000

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How can a country effectively prosecute, rehabilitate, and reintegrate former terrorists? This is a challenge for several Member States of the United Nations. In the case of Nigeria, it is most pressing with respect to persons associated with Boko Haram – be they suspects, offenders, or individuals who have surrendered. In response to a request from the Nigerian Office of the National Security Advisor, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), with funding from the European Union, held high-level and technical consultations on this theme in Abuja from 13 to 15 December 2016.

Bringing together experts from Member States that have faced similar challenges, the consultations included representatives of Algeria, Kenya, Sri Lanka, and South Africa who shared good practices and lessons learned. Also experts from international organizations participated. Nigerian officials, representing 31 entities including from the six most affected states, highlighted progress achieved and challenges remaining in implementing a criminal justice-based approach to the prosecution, rehabilitation, and reintegration of former members of Boko Haram.

As a result of these consultations, Nigeria identified the need to further clarify its goals for a successful criminal justice framework, including developing an effective prosecution strategy and robust criteria for pursuing alternative rehabilitation and reintegration approaches.

The consultations were part of an ongoing EU-Nigeria-UNODC-CTED partnership project funded by the European Union. Applying human rights-compliant criminal justice measures, the project aims to support Nigeria to bring terrorists to justice and to prevent further acts of terrorism. It focuses on strengthening the capacity of Nigerian criminal justice officials to effectively investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate terrorism cases, in accordance with the rule of law.

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Large �山��delegation visits Nigeria to assess its counter-terrorism progress and capacity needs

BMUSONI — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 18:11:00 +0000

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Briefing by the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the visiting delegation.

On 13-16 October 2015, a delegation consisting of 11 �山��agencies and international and regional organizations – led by the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) – made a follow-up visit to the Federal Republic of Nigeria to assess the country’s latest counter-terrorism efforts and capacity needs.

Through local dialogue and engagement with Government representatives and civil society groups, the delegation learned about the current security situation, including the terrorism threat posed by Boko Haram to Nigeria and the region, despite recent military and law enforcement operations having degraded the terrorist organization’s capability. The delegation was also briefed about Boko Haram’s focus on soft targets, using improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The Government informed the delegation of its focus on dismantling the terrorist group by the end of 2015 through continuous operations, including under the Multinational Joint Task Force.

At the end of its visit, the delegation welcomed important progress made by the Federal Republic of Nigeria in recent years, and identified areas in which the country could benefit from technical assistance provided by international partners.

Delegation members included representatives of CTED, the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF), the 1267/1989 Security Council Committee Monitoring Team, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime’s Terrorism Prevention Branch (UNODC/TPB), the United Nations Office for West Africa (UNOWA), the World Bank, and the World Customs Organizations (WCO).

Nigeria is member of the Security Council and by extension also member of the Counter-Terrorism Committee until the end of 2015. To date, the Committee has made assessment visits to over 100 countries to monitor, promote, and facilitate States’ implementation of Security Council resolutions 1373, 1624 and, more recently, 2178.

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Security Council - Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) - Nigeria

The European Union, UNODC, and CTED partner to support Nigeria to manage individuals associated with Boko Haram

nigeria_workshop2_december_2016.jpg

Large �山����delegation visits Nigeria to assess its counter-terrorism progress and capacity needs

nigeria_visit_october_2015.jpg

Large �山��delegation visits Nigeria to assess its counter-terrorism progress and capacity needs