OSCE/ODIHR trains trainers on protecting human rights in countering terrorism

Complying with human rights standards and effectively countering terrorism were the focus of training organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) from 9 to 12 March in Warsaw.

The training of trainers, bringing together 10 human rights and counter-terrorism experts, as well as ODIHR staff, was aimed at developing a training curriculum for counter-terrorism officers in the OSCE region.

“The curriculum adds to an already comprehensive set of resources and tools that ODIHR has to offer to OSCE participating States to assist them in countering terrorism in a human rights-compliant way,” said Snježana Bokulić, Head of the ODIHR Human Rights Department. “ODIHR is ready to provide training to contribute to building counter-terrorism officers’ capacities to respond effectively to the many difficult challenges they face in their everyday work.”

The training builds upon two pilot sessions – in Sarajevo in July 2014 and Warsaw in November 2014, respectively – and marks the conclusion of an ODIHR project to develop a training curriculum, a trainers’ manual and a training-of-trainers programme for counterterrorism officers.

The project, which has benefited from extensive consultation with counterterrorism practitioners, human rights experts and civil society representatives, adopts an operational approach to its curriculum and is aimed at strengthening the capacities of law enforcement officers in OSCE participating States to carry out their duties in compliance with human rights.