NCJ Number
247490
Date Published
February 2014
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reviews progress it has made during 2013 in delivering technical assistance to United Nations member states in implementing international conventions and protocols related to counter-terrorism.
Abstract
In 2013, the UNODC continued to provide legal technical assistance to member states related to the ratification and legislative incorporation of the provisions of 18 international legal instruments intended to prevent and counter terrorism. This work contributed to 24 new ratifications of these international legal instruments and led to the preparation of 16 new or revised national counter-terrorism laws. In addition, the UNODC focused on further improving the knowledge and practices of national criminal justice systems in investigating, prosecuting, and adjudicating terrorism cases, as well as their capacity to cooperate in counter-terrorism efforts regionally and internationally. Due to the increasing use of the Internet by terrorist groups, the UNODC has conducted national workshops for criminal justice personnel on special investigative techniques for countering terrorists' use of digital communication channels. Other counter-terrorist activities of the UNODC have focused on improving criminal justice systems' support for terrorism victims; countering chemical, biological radiological, and nuclear terrorism; suppression of the financing of terrorism; and addressing transport-related (civil aviation and maritime) terrorism offenses. The UNODC also reports on its monitoring of its technical assistance activities and the assessment of their impact. Priorities of the Terrorism Prevention Branch of the UNODC are outlined for 2014. Recommendations are proposed for actions by the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, under which the UNODC operates.