Regional Training Workshop on Counter-Terrorism and International Crime, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
Press Release: Regional Training Workshop on Counter-Terrorism and International Crime Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, Thursday, 2 September 2010: The Judiciary of the United Republic of Tanzania, the International Crime in Africa Programme (ICAP) at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), and the Kenyan Sector of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ-Kenya), are delighted to announce the successful conclusion of a three-day regional training workshop on counter-terrorism and international crime for judicial officials, senior law enforcement, and experts on international criminal justice and counter-terrorism.
The workshop was held from 31 August to 2 September 2010, at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and attended by Chief Justices from Tanzania and Zanzibar, Seychelles, Southern Sudan and about 80 judges and legal experts from Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Southern Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda including law enforcement officers and experts on international criminal justice and counter-terrorism.
The workshop was aimed at raising awareness about contemporary developments in the international criminal justice system and to support the development of sustainable capacities and expertise of senior judges and judicial officials from countries within the Eastern African region, to enable them respond appropriately to complex international crimes such as terrorism, piracy, money laundering and other organised transnational crimes.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, H.E. Dr Amani Abeid Karume, underscored the importance of the workshop both as a forum to discuss and increase capacity in dealing with serious crimes committed outside state borders, and as a positive move towards forging closer judicial ties among countries in the region. He stated that terrorism remains a serious global issue and that the recent attacks in Kampala on 11 July 2010 highlighted its continued threat to Africa. In this context, He commended the objective of the workshop, stressing the imperative that `judicial officers continue to possess the requisite intellectual and moral strength to discharge their duties with competence and fairness.` In conclusion, President Karume called on the experts to bring together their vast experiences and assist governments in drawing up result-oriented strategies for curbing international crimes.
Participants deliberated on a wide range of issues including the history, origin and general principles of international criminal law; the International Criminal Court (ICC) and issues related to jurisdiction, complementarity, investigation of international criminal crimes; as well as the dynamics of peace, terrorism, amnesty, immunities, witness protection, intelligence and measures for suppressing the financing of terrorism. They acknowledged the important contribution that the ISS and ICJ-Kenya had made towards the successful organisation of the workshop. Participants agreed to hold regular workshops and consultations of this nature, and adopted a number of recommendations for strengthening the international criminal justice response to international crimes in Africa.
In closing the workshop, Honorable Mathius M. Chikawe, Minister for Justice, Constitutional and Legal Affairs of the United Republic of Tanzania, reiterated the need for concerted action, particularly among judges and security officials in dealing with international crimes. He also expressed the hope that participants will utilise the skills gained from the three-day workshop to improve criminal justice in their respective countries.
The workshop was made possible thanks to the generous financial contribution of the Governments of the Netherlands and Norway.
The International Crime in Africa Programme (ICAP) of the Institute for Security Studies (ICAP) works towards enhancing peace, justice and accountability in Africa by raising awareness and building capacity of governments and civil society stakeholders to respond to international crimes and terrorism. ICAP has established itself as a credible research and technical assistance resource for law enforcement and criminal justice officials, as well as for policymakers and political leaders working in the fields of international criminal justice and counter-terrorism. The ISS has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the East African Community (EAC) for strengthening cooperation on matters relating to regional peace and security.
The ISS is a pan-African applied policy research institute headquartered in Pretoria, South Africa with offices in Cape Town, South Africa, Nairobi, Kenya and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It is an established think tank working in the area of African human security. It seeks to mainstream human security perspectives into public policy processes and to influence decision makers within Africa and beyond. The objective of the Institute is to add critical balance and objectivity by providing timely, empirical research and contextual analysis of relevant human security issues to policy makers, area specialists, advocacy groups, and the media.
For more information contact:
Ms Katarina Revocati
Deputy Registrar, Commercial Court
Judiciary of Tanzania
Dar Es Salaam
Tel: +255 22 2124375
Ms Jemima Kariri
Senior Researcher: Terrorism International Crime in Africa
Institute for Security Studies
PO Box 1787, Brooklyn Square, 0075
South Africa
Tel: +27 (0)12 346 9500
Fax: +27 (0) 866367995
Thematic work: International Crime and Terrorism
