02-09-2016, Entebbe, Uganda – The IGAD Security Sector Program (IGAD SSP) in partnership with the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) conducted a three days regional training workshop from 29 to 31 August 2016 on the Protection of Victims, Witnesses and Criminal Justice System officials as a Good Practice in Preventing and Countering Terrorism in the Horn and Eastern Africa Region in Entebbe, Uganda.
High-level delegates, including senior judicial officials, and experienced law enforcement authorities represented from IGAD Member States plus Tanzania have attended the Workshop; actively participated and shared their experiences in witness protection programs in the fight against terrorism.
The workshop also brought resource persons from within the region and outside who shared their expertise and good practices.
The participants observed that the workshop has been instrumental in enhancing their capacity and drawing lessons on good practices from one another. The participants also identified legislative and institutional gaps in their respective domestic jurisdictions with regard to protection of victims, witnesses, judicial officials and law enforcement authorities.
After thorough consultations, the participants have, among others, recommended development of common regional guidelines on Protection of Witnesses with emphasis on Criminal Justice System officials.
This Workshop is the seventh, in a series of training workshops that are jointly organized by IGAD SSP and GCTF with the financial support from the US Government under the theme: “Building Capacity and Promoting the Rabat Memorandum on Good Practices for Effective Counterterrorism Practice in the Criminal Justice Sector in the Horn of Africa Region.” (END)
