Effective and Human Rights-Compliant Counter-Terrorism Policing
OSCE/ODIHR Training Courses for Law Enforcement
ODIH R Human rights and counter-terrorism
Human rights are an integral element of all police Recognizing the importance of protecting human operations and their practical application is an rights for countering terrorism effectively, the essential part of any successful counter-terrorism OSCE participating States tasked the OSCE Office effort. Human rights are the allies of effective police for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights work. Paying attention to the rights and particular (ODIHR) to offer technical assistance and advice needs of the men, women and children in the on the implementation of laws and policies aimed community a police officer serves makes the police at countering terrorism and violent extremism and more effective. This principle applies as much to radicalization that lead to terrorism (VERLT) in line terrorism-related crimes as it does to other crimes. with their international human rights obligations and commitments. At the request of a participating State, Respect for human rights in counter-terrorism policing ODIHR conducts capacity-building activities for law is a pre-condition for preventing terrorism effectively. enforcement officials. ODIHR offers the following Failure to respect and protect human rights is one of training courses: the root causes of terrorism; human rights-compliant policing is key to any effort to counter this security • Standard (foundational) training: threat. Respect for human rights is thus the cornerstone The Protection of Human Rights of law enforcement efforts to counter terrorism. while Countering Terrorism Effectively
Consequently, when preventing, investigating • Advanced training: Human Rights in and responding to terrorism, police officers can Counter-Terrorism Investigations benefit greatly from training that strengthens their understanding of and ability to respect and protect the • Tailored courses for law enforcement on protecting human rights while preventing
“ rights of all. and countering VERLT, e.g., through a community policing approach.
Human rights violations take a heavy toll on our collective efforts to fight terrorism and ensure greater security for our societies. ODIHR’s training activities help strengthen the skills of law enforcement officers in protecting human rights while countering terrorism. Govkherzhan Yuldasheva Doctor of Law, Professor, International Law and Human Rights Department, Tashkent State Law University and National Co-Trainer of ODIHR’s course Who should take part?
The training courses are aimed at police officers, prosecutors and other state actors (e.g., security and intelligence services, other security sector officials) who are tasked with counter-terrorism issues — preventing, investigating and responding to terrorism. The training is suitable both for command officers/officers with supervisory functions and frontline officers from local, regional or national police forces. ODIHR will always push for the equal participation of men and women. The courses are each designed for 20 participants to ensure they are interactive and encourage the sharing of experiences and views.
How we work?
Needs-driven and tailored to the local context: Motivational:
The training demonstrates how upholding human Training courses are tailored to the results of a pre- rights is effective in protecting both the public and training assessment, which usually involves a visit officers from harm in the short and long term. to the country and desk research. This information This motivates participants to apply human rights- gives the training team an understanding of the based strategies and practices. local terrorism-related issues and associated human rights concerns. Training materials are prepared in local language(s), as required.
Long-term:
Interactive: To get the most out of our training courses, we aim to engage with countries over the long term; Experience shows that people learn better when delivering a package of standard and advanced actively involved in practical exercises. Therefore, courses, ideally followed by a training of trainers our courses are very interactive and include plenary (ToT) course to allow the country to take over the and small group discussions as well as problem- training for itself. solving exercises. Participants are encouraged to share their knowledge and experience so that they can learn from each other as well as from the trainers. Lectures and presentations are strictly limited during the courses. Expert-led:
Training teams comprise at least one trainer with a human rights background and one from law enforcement (current or former law enforcement officer). ODIHR courses
Standard (foundational) training — Advanced training — The Protection of Human Rights Human Rights in Counter-Terrorism while Countering Terrorism Effectively Investigations
Target group: Counter-terrorism law enforcement Target group: Law enforcement officers engaged officers, prosecutors and other state actors in counter-terrorism investigations, prosecutors and (up to 20 participants) other state actors (up to 20 participants) Length: 2 days Length: 2 days Learning objectives: By the end of the training Learning objectives: By the end of the training participants will be able to: participants will be able to:
• Better protect human rights while engaged in • Evaluate the level of compliance with human counter-terrorism policing; rights within several phases of a counter- • Understand and apply human rights standards terrorism investigation; to situations that arise in their work; • Increase the operational effectiveness • Understand the risks to effective counter- of all phases of an investigation as a result terrorism policing caused by a failure of human rights compliance; and to comply with human rights standards; and • Facilitate cross-agency law enforcement • Engage in counter-terrorism policing that is collaboration to strengthen human rights more effective in the short and long term. compliance within counter-terrorist investigations.
Content: The training is Content: This course interactive and dynamic, builds on the standard focusing on the inextricable (foundational) course, but link between human can also be implemented rights and the operational as a stand-alone course. effectiveness of policing. It follows the scenario of Among other topics, it covers a genuine counter-terrorism human rights standards; investigation and looks at risks from human rights issues such as intelligence violations in the counter- and information gathering and terrorism context; the impact of human rights analysis, special investigation techniques, arrest violations on both suspects and law enforcement and detention, searches, interviewing techniques, officers; interviewing techniques that create trust accountability and investigation security. The aim and respect; and stereotypes and implicit bias in of the course is to examine not only the human counter-terrorism policing. The curriculum uses rights issues that may arise at different stages of an real examples and case studies from the practical investigation, but also how the protection of human experiences of counter-terrorism law enforcement rights can increase the effectiveness of counter- officers. The training builds on a broad range of terrorism investigations. The curriculum is based ODIHR tools, such as the Manual on Countering on the joint ODIHR and TNTD/SPMU manual on Terrorism, Protecting Human Rights (www.osce. Human Rights in Counter-Terrorism Investigations org/odihr/29103) and the Guidelines for Addressing (www.osce.org/odihr/108930). the Threats and Challenges of „Foreign Terrorist Fighters” within a Human Rights Framework (www. Developed by ODIHR and the OSCE Transnational Threats osce.org/odihr/393503). Department/Strategic Police Matters Unit (TNTD/SPMU)
Other courses Upon request, ODIHR can also provide specialist training on protecting human rights while countering terrorism and preventing VERLT for different target groups in law enforcement (such as municipal police, border guards or others). This is tailored to the specific needs of the participants and is based on ODIHR tools and training modules. ODIHR training in your country
Step 1: Request Any participating State or OSCE field operation may request ODIHR’s assistance in improving human rights-compliant counter-terrorism policing through one of our training courses.
Step 2: Needs assessment Before the training, ODIHR usually conducts a needs assessment visit, in close cooperation with state authorities, to understand the local Step 3: Adapting the curriculum context and identify potential human rights and counter-terrorism issues, including: Based on the results of the assessment visit and desk research, ODIHR may decide to adjust the • The history and risk patterns of curriculum. Training materials are translated into (real or perceived) terrorism threats local language(s) as required. • The strategies used by counter-terrorism police and the impact these have on terrorism-related threats and on communities • Counter-terrorism legislation, specialized bodies (such as internal commissions, task forces, etc.) and national institutions tasked to deal with terrorism • Human rights and gender issues arising in counter-terrorism legislation and its practical Step 4: Delivery application ODIHR takes care of the organizational matters and The needs assessment visit may involve meetings arranges a venue if necessary. Training is delivered with: in English and the local language(s); simultaneous interpretation is provided. ODIHR can organize • National authorities (main counterparty), several training courses each year. and representatives from the police, prosecution authorities, security services and other law enforcement authorities • Police academy and other training centres for police representatives • National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and other human rights oversight bodies • Human rights NGOs, lawyers involved Step 5: Evaluation in counter-terrorism cases, women’s organizations, community representatives, ODIHR conducts evaluations of each training in particular from communities most affected course, e.g., with pre- and post-evaluation by terrorism and counter-terrorism, as well questionnaires and feedback sessions. The as any association of victims of terrorism purpose is to assess the effectiveness of the training and gather feedback for trainers on their The assessment visit usually lasts 2 days and performance. should take place at least one month before the training course. If you are interested in ODIHR training for your law enforcement officials, please contact us at: office@odihr.pl
For detailed information about ODIHR’s activities on human rights and counter-terrorism issues, or to view its full range of publications and reports, scan the QR code below or visit: www.osce.org/odihr/countering-terrorism
OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
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