NCJ Number
238918
Date Published
February 2012
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This report reviews progress made in 2011 by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), particularly by its Terrorism Prevention Branch, in delivering technical assistance for the development and implementation of counter-terrorism plans.
Abstract
The report highlights efforts made and challenges faced in responding to the evolving needs of United Nations member states regarding the criminal justice aspects of countering terrorism. The technical assistance requests received by the UNDOC's Terrorism Prevention Branch indicate the growing need for capacity-building assistance, in addition to the need for continued assistance in the ratification and legislative implementation of international instruments designed to prevent and combat terrorism. There is a need for long-term, detailed, custom-tailored assistance and for outreach to criminal justice practitioners involved in the investigation, prosecution, and adjudication of specific cases. It is recommended that the UNODC continue to assist in reinforcing mechanisms for international cooperation in criminal matters related to counter-terrorism. Requests for technical assistance also show the need for improved, specialized, and substantive expertise-building in such areas as nuclear, chemical, biological, and radiological terrorism; transportation security; the financing of terrorism; and countering the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes. The Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice should consider providing further guidance on the reinforcement of UNODC's technical assistance work on the criminal justice aspects of countering terrorism. UNODC relies on member states to increase their support, both politically and financially, in order to enable the UNODC to continue to assist member states in implementing a fully functional international level regime against terrorism based on the rule of law. Member states should provide sufficient resources to make the counter-terrorism work of the Terrorism Prevention Branch sustainable, by making an adequate increase in regular budget resources and through the provision of predictable and multi-year extra-budgetary resources. Appended table of member states' contributions