IIJ’s CT PHARE, in partnership with the Secretariat General of the Arab Interior Ministers Council (AIMC), successfully delivered a Training of Trainers (ToT) on the Human Rights-based Decision-Making Model (DMM) for Counter-Terrorism (CT) Operations in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This initiative aimed to equip security practitioners with the skills and knowledge necessary to train their peers in integrating human rights principles into CT operations while upholding international legal standards on human rights. It was the first time CT practitioners were introduced to the new IIJ Human Rights Toolkit on Effective Decision Making in CT Investigations.
The training brought together participants from Algeria, Chad, Djibouti, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Palestine Authority, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and Iraq, promoting regional collaboration and capacity-building. Brig. Gen. Mohammed Abdullah Alsuhaili, Head of the Arab Office for Countering Extremism, Terrorism and Cybercrime (AOCETC) delivered the opening remarks on behalf of the Secretariat General of the AIMC, alongside Ms. Neila Feki, President of the Tunisian National Counter-Terrorism Commission (CNLCT), EU CT expert on behalf of the EU Delegation in Tunisia, Mr. Paul Madden, IIJ CT PHARE Project Lead, and Mr. Naoufel Gaied, Director of the IIJ Academic Unit, delivered opening remarks. They all underlined the importance of embedding human rights within counter-terrorism strategies, and policies.
Over the course of the programme, participants explored best practices in rights-based decision-making, strengthening their ability to deliver training sessions within their respective national institutions.
In addition to the training of trainers sessions, IIJ CT PHARE Project Llead, Mr. Paul Madden and the Director of the Academic Unit, Mr. Naoufel Gaied met with H.E Joseph M. Sammut, Ambassador of Malta in Tunisia. The meeting served to brief the High Commission on the IIJ’s mandate and CT PHARE’s work in North Africa, including its focus on human rights-based approaches to counter-terrorism and collaboration with regional partners such as the AIMC and AUCTC. Opportunities for continued engagement were also discussed.
The programme laid the groundwork for long-term regional collaboration, promoting policies and practices that align security efforts with fundamental rights and legal obligations. In this regards, IIJ CT PHARE Project Lead, Mr. Paul Madden, and IIJ CT PHARE Project Manager, Ms. Francesca Amerio also met with His Excellency Dr. Mohammed bin Ali Koman, Secretary-General of the Arab Interior Ministers Council and discussed next steps to establish a sustainable network of trained trainers who will continue to promote and apply the DMM throughout the MENA region.
We extend our gratitude to Tunisia, to the Secretariat General of the AIMC for the partnership in this programme and for hosting it in its premises, and to all participants who contributed to the success of this initiative.