EU stresses co-operation and human rights in fight against terrorism

07.11.2019

Officials from the Office of the Director for Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the Office of the Attorney-General (AG) and the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) engage with European counterparts during a seminar hosted at the International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC) in Karen, Nairobi.

From 4 to 8 November 2019, officials from the Office of the Director for Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the Office of the Attorney-General (AG) and the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) engaged with European counterparts during a seminar, which was hosted at the International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC) in Karen, Nairobi.

 

The objective of the weeklong event was to share experiences relating to the prosecution of suspects of terrorism and transnational organised crime.  Terrorism and serious crime are transnational in nature, with criminal networks routinely moving people, resources and assets across borders.  Therefore it is necessary for crime investigators and prosecutors from neighbouring countries to join hands and work together, in order to able to disrupt criminal activities.  Formal procedures for mutual legal assistance are lengthy and time-consuming.  The seminar heard from senior prosecutors from France and Spain who explained how within the EU specialised bodies have been established –in particular Eurojust and the European judicial network- which facilitate the coordination among prosecutors from different EU member states.  Such co-operation makes the fight against crime and terrorism more effective and results in speedier detection and arrest of criminals.            

 

The seminar at the IPSTC was organised by the EU Regional Law Enforcement project – Horn of Africa & Yemen.  The project is working with Kenya and other partner countries in the Horn of Africa to strengthen criminal justice responses in the fight against terrorism.  Respect for human rights is an integral part of an effective and humane rule of law regime, including guarantees such as access to a fair trial for suspects.