Together with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) facilitated an expert group meeting (EGM) in Vienna from 22-24 October 2019. The purpose of the EGM was to discuss the current practices and challenges relevant to the requirement for Member States to develop comprehensive and tailored prosecution, rehabilitation and reintegration (PRR) strategies, pursuant to the relevant Security Council resolutions. Participants included representatives from the African Union (AU), European Union (EU), the UN Department of Peace Operations, UNDP, UNICEF, UNOCT, UN Women, the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute as well as representatives from Member States.
During the first session of the EGM, discussions focused on the importance of the screening of all persons associated with terrorist groups in compliance with international human rights law. The second session of the EGM focussed on the role of the criminal justice system in PRR. The discussion focused on the issues surrounding states facing the return of a large number of individuals suspected of acts of terrorism. Some participants stressed the need for international cooperation especially through the provision of mutual legal assistance regarding the return of foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs). The discussion then moved to the role of correctional systems within PRR and the process of rehabilitation and reintegration of FTFs and their families in situations where repatriation is not possible. Participants also discussed the role of alternatives to detention in PRR such as parole and probation as well as the role of communities and civil society in the rehabilitation and reintegration of those associated with terrorist groups, especially those associated with terror groups but not prosecuted or brought to justice. The EGM also discussed whether there is room for PRR to be used as a tool to increase defection where a terrorist group is party to an armed conflict. The offering of amnesties to those involved in such conflicts was also discussed.
CTED and UNODC will use the information gathered at the EGM to assist in the development of a reference document on PRR for Member States which will be available in the first half of 2020. The information from the EGM will also be used to contribute to the ongoing development of the UNOCT/United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT)/UNODC/CTED Joint Programme to Support Member States in the Screening and Prosecution, Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Individuals Suspected or Convicted of Committing Terrorist Acts, including FTFs and Persons Associated to Terrorist Groups.