Effective rule of law-based responses to countering terrorism in focus at OSCE seminar in Skopje

Effective responses based on the rule of law in countering terrorism were the focus of a two-day seminar organized in Skopje by the OSCE in co-operation with the National Academy for Judges and Public Prosecutors on 24-25 June 2015.

The seminar brought together 29 representatives of agencies that deal with counter-terrorism and focused particularly on the Global Counterterrorism Forum’s (GCTF) Rabat Memorandum on Good Practices for Effective Counterterrorism Practice in the Criminal Justice Sector.

Participants exchanged experiences with international experts from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, the United Kingdom and the United States as well as with experts from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Discussions concentrated on areas such as effective co-operation and co-ordination among domestic government agencies and the importance of international co-operation. The seminar also highlighted the importance of criminalizing offenses outlined in relevant international counter-terrorism legal instruments and on the significance of adopting incentives for terrorist suspects to co-operate in counter-terrorism investigations and prosecutions. 

“Through its multi-dimensional and co-operative security approach, the OSCE possesses a unique advantage in supporting international efforts in tackling global threats, such as the global fight against terrorism. The event today aims at exploring ways to balance rule of law concerns with effectively preventing and combating terrorism, by promoting internationally recognized best practices,” said Acting Head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje, Ambassador Marianne Berecz.

All OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation have committed to furthering international co-operative efforts promoting effective and rule of law-based responses by national criminal justice systems as part of a global strategy to counter and prevent terrorism.