UN LAUNCHES ONLINE TRAINING COURSE TO FIGHT TERRORISM

UN LAUNCHES ONLINE TRAINING COURSE TO FIGHT TERRORISM
New York, Oct 7 2009 11:10AM
The United Nations crime-fighting agency and its partners have launched a six-week online training course to provide Member States with crucial technical assistance for strengthening judicial and police cooperation against terrorism.

?In today's world, terrorism knows no borders,? the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (<"http://www.unodc.org/">UNODC) said in a <"http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/frontpage/2009/October/new-online-course-to-combat-terrorism.html">statement. ?Criminals carry out their illicit activities by moving from one country to another or by operating on several national territories. As a result, in an increasingly interdependent world, no State alone can deal effectively with terrorism.

?Cooperation between States to prevent and suppress acts of terrorism today is crucial. States must provide prompt and effective assistance to each other to effectively address the terrorist threat,? it added of the course in which it is being partnered by the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) and the DiploFoundation, a non-profit organization based in Malta.

Fifty applicants from 45 countries will work through the highly interactive online platform, which offers a comprehensive and interactive approach to best practices in judicial and police cooperation on counter-terrorism issues.

Topics to be covered include measures to prevent terrorist acts; exchange of police information; mutual legal assistance in criminal matters; and the search for and extradition of terrorists.

Online training is one of the many technical assistance activities undertaken by UNODC to strengthen Member States' national capacity to counter terrorism.

UNODC has for many years addressed international terrorism and related international cooperation. In 2002, the General Assembly approved an expanded programme of activities for the UNODC Terrorism Prevention Branch focusing on helping States in the legal and related aspects of counter-terrorism.

This especially targets the ratification and implementation of universal legal instruments against terrorism and strengthening the capacity of national criminal justice systems to apply the related provisions. In addition, the Branch provides substantive input on counter-terrorism issues to intergovernmental bodies, coordinating its work with relevant other actors.