Commentary : Counter-Terrorism Workshop a Testimony to International Support in South Asia
It is an unacceptable reality that thousands of lives are lost each year due to terrorism. The most immediate impacts are felt by families and communities, often our most vulnerable populations, as individuals cope with the trauma of losing loved ones and the imposing sense of insecurity in day-to-day activities. South Asia has suffered enormous consequences of terrorism. At the domestic level, these attacks result in political stability, economic progress, and national security. The rich histories, vibrant cultures, and desires of those hoping to build a better future for themselves and their loved ones are threatened daily. The United Nations condemns terrorism in all of its forms in the strongest possible terms.
In this context, a key element in countering terrorism is bringing terrorists to justice. It is often stressed that prosecution also constitutes the prevention of terrorism. But how does that translate into concrete measures on the ground? One way is to promote regional cooperation among those enforcing the rules and following the perpetrators. This is why judges, prosecutors, and police officers from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka are kicking off a regional workshop today on effectively countering terrorism in South Asia.
However, the challenges of deterring and bringing terrorists to justice are large in scope, and the complexities are often discouraged. In South Asia, as in all other parts of the world, terrorism is linked to a host of other challenges, including the flow of illicit goods and persons — of explosives, illegal funds, and suspected criminals — across borders. Developing States’ capacity, law enforcement officials, and judiciary members on both sides of the frame to be adequately equipped to deal with these issues requires a cooperative, sustained approach.
READ MORE :
- How to Make Money As an Online Blogger?
- Brain waves can be used to detect potentially harmful personal information
- The Revenant: Beauty and Brutality in Equal Measure
- Ulta Beauty brings a fun side of beauty to Asheboro
- Movable Applications Are Entering The Automobile
As a testimony to the persistent efforts of the South Asian States to strengthen regional and international cooperation and the commitment of the United Nations to support these efforts, this week’s workshop is the 11th of its kind in seven years. It marks the latest step in a process that has involved over 300 senior judges, prosecutors, and police officials representing all of the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries, as well as donor countries Australia, Canada, Denmark, India, Sweden, and the United States.
Numerous international and regional organizations have sent representatives, including ASEANAPOL, the Bangladesh Enterprise Institute, EUROPOL, the GSM Group, the Institute of South Asian Studies (Singapore), INTERPOL, the Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation, the Observer Research Foundation (India), the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies (Sri Lanka), SAARC and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Experts have come from South Asia and Australia, Canada, Denmark, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
An unconventional forum to ensure continuous dialogue among judges, prosecutors, and police officers, the 11th workshop is hosted by the Government of Sri Lanka and organized by the United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) in partnership with the Global Center for Cooperative Security, with the support of the governments of Australia and the United States of America. Over three days, these experts will share their experiences and explore specific issues that arise in the context of terrorism-related cases, specifically issues linked to foreign terrorist fighters. This year, discussions will be facilitated by resource persons from Australia and the United States, along with observers from INTERPOL, SAARC, and UNODC.
