2016 Advanced Summer Programme on Countering Terrorism

From 29 August – 2 September 2016, ICCT and the T.M.C. Asser Instituut are organising the Sixth Advanced Summer Programme on Countering Terrorism.

Introduction A frequently used phrase last year was that “terrorism is back on the agenda as never before”. This has sadly again been confirmed in 2015. The world witnessed horrible attacks in Baga, Sana’a, Paris, Garissa, Jalalabad, Maiduguri, Kobani, Sousse, Kukawa, Khan Bani Saad, Kabul, Baghdad, Ankara, Sinai and Beirut, to just name a few from a long list. Whereas the Paris attacks in both January and November 2015 had a big impact on Western Europe, in terms of casualties, the Baga massacre in Nigeria, which reportedly took the lives of more than 2,000 persons, was 2015’s nadir.

Especially the foreign (terrorist) fighter phenomenon, on which ICCT has worked from 2012 onwards, has been placed on the agendas of international and regional organisations, governments and municipalities around the world. That thousands of people are leaving their country of nationality or habitual residence to fight in far-away conflicts, especially in Syria and Iraq, has caused great concerns, not only because many of these persons prolong the conflict itself and commit crimes, but also because they might – and in fact, several have – return(ed) on a fighting mission. In addition to all of this, people who do not have the chance to go to the Levant or other conflict areas, but have the same agenda, may engage in copy-cat behaviour and stage terrorist attacks at home, sometimes even without any clear links with the organisation they say they fight for.

In the 2014 Summer Programme brochure it was predicted that, because of all the terrorist incidents, there is a “danger of showing muscles and resorting to repressive security measures, as was done post 9/11”. Unfortunately, this is exactly the direction we seem to be heading to; the UN Working Group on Mercenaries, for instance, warned in November 2015 that “States have adopted measures that disproportionately restrict freedom of movement and the right to nationality, due process and the presumption of innocence”.

In short, the (counter-)terrorism landscape is perhaps even more complex than in the years before. This requires a solid understanding of the different issues, both underlying causes and rule-of-law responses, at stake.

Programme This Summer Programme aims to provide participants the necessary knowledge and insights into the legal frameworks in countering today’s and tomorrow’s terrorism. Participants and lecturers will search together for and discuss long-term, effective, international rule-of-law-based strategies and measures.   Topics include:

• Defining Terrorism under International and Domestic Laws
• The War Paradigm vs. the Law Enforcement Paradigm
• The Role of International Human Rights Law in Countering Terrorism
• The Role of Intelligence and the Police in Countering Terrorism
• The Protection and Use of Witnesses in Terrorism Cases
• Trying Terrorists at the Domestic and International Level
• Legal Aspects in Countering the Foreign (Terrorist) Fighter Phenomenon

Both the T.M.C. Asser Instituut and ICCT are at the forefront of doing research and organising projects on these matters, and are ideally equipped to mobilise the best speakers on these topics. Names of confirmed lecturers will be announced on our website and social media accounts in the coming months, so stay tuned!

>> Download the preliminary programme

Study visits Each year, study trips are organised to prominent institutions in The Hague, such as the Special Tribunal for Lebanon andEurojust.

Target audience, application and fees*

Front-line practitioners, policy makers (at the international, national, regional and local level), diplomats, (military) lawyers, professionals working at think-and-do tanks, international organisations, universities (including advanced (PhD) students) and the criminal justice sector, who want to expand their knowledge of the underlying legal tenets and dilemmas in countering today’s and tomorrow’s terrorism, are invited to apply.

• Registration form: www.asser.nl/CounteringTerrorism2016

The deadline for application is 18 July 2016.

*Please read the Registration Information & Conditions carefully before registration.

Fee € 1695

This fee includes lectures, study materials, study visits, water/tea/coffee and lunch during working days, a reception and an opening dinner.

The fee does not cover (international) travel costs, domestic travel to and from airports, (hotel) accommodation, insurance or other expenses. The T.M.C. Asser Instituut can provide prospective participants with a list of suitable hotels in The Hague.

Contact

For more information or questions please contact educationtraining@asser.nl or info@icct.nl.

Download more information

Preliminary Programme Summer Programme on Countering Terrorism 2016