Police-Judiciary Workshop held in Garowe- EUCAP Nestor Press Statement
Somalilandsun- From December 4th to 6th, EUCAP Nestor organized a workshop attended by thirty-three police officers (crime investigators), prosecutors and judges, including four females, from different areas of the Puntland State of Somalia.
Topics included police-prosecutor cooperation, the legal provisions on arrest, search and seizure – with attention to Human Rights dimension and Gender, as well as an exercise on countering human trafficking.
EUCAP Nestor’s Senior Police Adviser, Senior Maritime Adviser and Legal Adviser gave presentations. Lecturers from UNSOM and UNODC contributed to making the workshop an inclusive approach by the international community.
One of the most important aspects of the three-day event was the enhancement of cooperation between police, prosecutors and judges. The workshop was a further opportunity for EUCAP Nestor to identify additional ways for cooperation over the next two years.
“I was impressed by the active discussions and level of participation in the workshop, which also provided a chance to hear many ideas for the planning of our future activities in Puntland”, commented EUCAP Nestor’s Legal Adviser Juha Sepponen.
“This workshop was very important. Apart from what we have learned this was an opportunity for police officers, prosecutors and judges to meet, getting to know each other and share our experiences” said Bashir Isamaacii Axamed, a Bari Region prosecutor at the end of the works. The Puntland Attorney General and Chief Justice/Chairman of the High Judicial Council were present for the closing ceremony of the workshop on the 6th of December
“We are grateful for EUCAP Nestor organising this workshop and look forward to continue our cooperation in 2017 and appreciate the assistance to address the gaps in our professional
knowledge” said the Chief Justice, Honorable Yusuf Haji Nur Ahmed thanking all for participating in the event.
At the end of the workshop the participants were handed over certificates and copies of the ‘Commentary on the Somali Penal Code’ written by American Lawyer Martin R. Ganzglass.
EUCAP Nestor is a civilian EU mission, under the auspices of the Common Security and Defence Policy, which assists Somalia in strengthening its capacity to ensure maritime security and in particular to fight piracy.
