UNITED NATIONS TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ON COUNTER-TERRORISM, ANTI-ORGANIZED CRIME TO TOGO

UNITED NATIONS TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ON COUNTER-TERRORISM,

ANTI-ORGANIZED CRIME TO TOGO

(Reissued as received.)

VIENNA, 2 August (UN Information Service) -- In order to provide technical assistance to Togo in its efforts to ratify and implement the universal instruments against terrorism, as well as the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its three Protocols, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is organizing a seminar in Lomé, Togo.  The seminar is being held from 2 to 3 August in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Togo.  It will discuss ways to ensure that national laws are put in line with the requirements of the above-mentioned instruments.  National experts and representatives from all relevant ministries will also participate.  In this context, and in order to facilitate the debate, UNODC representatives will present and disseminate a working document containing concrete proposals to adapt Togo’s national criminal law to international conventions.

Since Togo is already bound by 11 out of 12 universal instruments against terrorism, as well as the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, the workshop will focus on legislative implementation and international cooperation.  It is expected that the recommendations adopted by the participants will find full support at the political level.

The workshop follows a number of other recent technical assistance missions conducted by the UNODC in sub-Saharan Africa, including the Central African Republic, Chad, Congo and Guinea.

For more information, please contact:  Jean-Paul Laborde, Stefano Betti and/or Maud Olinet at +43 1 26060 - 4207/4497/5763 at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Vienna.

* *** *