Terrorism, an issue of interest to all States, has been on the international agenda for decades. Today, the speed and scale at which the gravity of the terrorist threat is evolving requires coordinated efforts and multidisciplinary actions. Many extremists groups are emerging and shaping alliances, and often converging with criminal networks managing trafficking in drugs, persons and firearms. The extent of the recent flow of foreign terrorist fighters to a number of conflict situations is unprecedented and increasingly representing a threat to peace, democracy and security, posing many new challenges to the international community. Foreign terrorist fighters have multifarious backgrounds, and have a variety of different motivations and objectives. The only common denominator between them is that they represent a threat without borders.

Research has shown that prisons can provide an environment where convicted terrorists can network, compare and exchange tactics, radicalize and recruit new members, and command and control operations outside the prison. However, where rehabilitation programmes are properly employed, prisons also offer the setting to enable a reversal of radicalization, and thus can play crucial role in the fight against terrorism.

An historic milestone in addressing terrorism was reached in 2006 with the Global Counter-terrorism Strategy. For the first time, all Member States of the United Nations agreed on a global strategy to coordinate their counter-terrorism efforts. There is a growing global consensus on the fact that terrorists cannot be defeated or rehabilitated without interventions addressing the root of the problem – the specific ideologies and motivations that stimulate alarming levels of recruitment into these criminal organizations.

However, research and experience confirm that there is no single approach which is effective or appropriate for all violent extremists. As such, in order to counter the phenomenon there is a need to build tailored strategies which integrate cultural, sociological and context-specific considerations and draw on expertise of all relevant stakeholders, including State agencies and civil society organizations, absorbing international best practices and proven methodologies.

Content

The course aim to promote knowledge on the phenomenon, including the role played by terrorist propaganda, and relevant counter-terrorism strategies with a particular focus on multilateral approach, governmental and civil society organizations responses, to properly frame the strategy to counter this phenomenon as part of the wider stabilization efforts, especially in the conflict affected situations. Moreover, participants will learn about rehabilitation of terrorists and violent extremists, and methods of preventing the spread of radicalization and networking among such individuals. The following issues will be featured during the course:

Terrorism: history, structure, dynamics, sources of support and major affected political areas

The universal legal framework against terrorism and its implementation
Counter-terrorism measures
Radicalization Rehabilitation and reintegration of violent extremist offenders
The phenomenon of foreign fighters
Strategic communication in countering violent extremism
Youth, families and civil society and terrorism
Deradicalization and disengagement

The lecturers are law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judges, and other justice practitioners from national, regional and international organization dealing with counter-terrorism. The training module will promote transfer of good practices and enhance networking with national, regional and international organizations, and research centres.

Course information

The course will be held from 13 to 17 November 2017 at the United Nations Campus in Turin, Italy.

The training is designed for university graduates in Law, Political Science, International Relations, Economics, Social Science, Public Policy and other relevant disciplines. It is also suited to professionals working in governmental institutions, local authorities, international and non-governmental organizations. Candidates must have a very good working knowledge of English. Upon full completion of the course the UNICRI will grant a Certificate of Participation.