CONTEXT
The Greater Horn of Africa is facing the threat of terrorism at both global and regional levels.
This represents an important challenge in the path of fighting off terrorism and radicalization.
Mitigating security threats emanating from the region is a key area of the EU Strategic.
Framework for the Horn of Africa, and existing EU policies in the field of Freedom, Security and Justice.
The EU pursues a global civilian counter-terrorism (CT) approach, in addressing terrorism on the basis of criminal justice, rule of law and the protection of fundamental rights. For this purpose, strengthening cross-border legal cooperation, information sharing, and investigation capacity have been core components of CT assistance to the States in the Greater Horn of Africa and Yemen.
OVERALL OBJECTIVE
The overall objective of the project is to enhance the capacity and capabilities of intelligence and law enforcement officials and prosecutors in the Greater Horn of Africa Region (and Yemen) to disrupt acts of terrorism and take legal actions against terrorism suspects guided by the rule of law and with due respect for Human Rights.
PURPOSE
The Project will contribute to CT efforts to regional development, as a part of the priorities of the EU Counter-Terrorism Action Plan for the Horn of Africa and Yemen, in close partnership with the beneficiary countries, and regional institutions. The specific objectives are:
1.To enhance capacity to prepare cases by improved intelligence and law enforcement capacity, focusing on gathering and developing intelligence into criminal cases, and to take the result of the intelligence work into the investigation process thus developing this into actionable evidence, and improved prosecutorial capacities across the region.
2.To enhance capacity to develop cases by enhanced skills amongst prosecutors and enhanced ability amongst States to cooperate with their counterparts and neighbours in the region on matters of extradition and mutual legal assistance (MLA).
3.To enhance case integrity by increased understanding among intelligence and law enforcement officials and prosecutors across the region, strengthened application of due process and international Human Rights standards when countering terrorism at each stage of the process of bringing terrorists to justice.
ACTIVITIES
Technical assistance actions aiming at the enhancement of Intelligence and law enforcement investigation and prosecution capacities in the CT field will be addressed within the framework of the project.
Main activities will consist in regional seminars, workshops and “training of trainers” courses, and national back-to-back trainings with the objective of improving CT capacities, strengthening judicial cooperation and MLA as well as reinforcing the implementation of the rule of law under the promotion and respect for Human Rights.