Abuja-Nigeria — International experts will hold a consultative meeting at the ECOWAS Commission headquarters in Abuja from 9th to 10th May 2011 to review the draft ECOWAS Counter-Terrorism Strategy and Implementation Plan.
The draft document is part of the regional response to the increasing terrorist activities in the region during the past decade and the seriousness of the threat of terrorism to West Africa. The main objectives of the draft strategy and implementation plan include equipping Member States to undertake rapid, timely and effective response to terrorism when it occurs; disrupting terrorists' planning, networks and their activities; bringing terrorist leaders and their followers, supporters and sympathizers to justice and cutting terrorists' funding and access to equipment training and meeting ground as well as creating a hostile environment for terrorists in the region. The agenda of the expert consultative meeting will include an overview of the threats and responses to terrorism in West Africa; work of participating institutions; progress made and key challenges to implementing international counter-terrorism legal regimes and Global Counter-terrorism Strategy in West Africa. The African Union and lessons from other regions' responses to terrorism in Africa will also be discussed. The primary obligation for full and effective implementation of the ECOWAS strategy remains with the states.
However to ensure regular follow-ups and effective monitoring of the implementation, would require the commitment of other stakeholders including international organizations and partners and civil society organizations. Equally critical are the roles of the National Taskforce on counter-terrorism, ECOWAS Counter-Terrorism Coordination (Unit/Centre), periodic evaluation and reporting on implementation of the ECOWAS Strategy, the ECOWAS Court of Justice as well as the ECOWAS Inter-Government Group Against Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing in Africa (GIABA). Some ECOWAS Member States have experienced various acts of terrorism such as kidnapping and hostage taking, hijacking, explosive bombing, gruesome murder and assassination and other terror-related attacks. The ECOWAS Commission believes that terrorism poses a serious threat to international peace, security and stability and that countering terrorism requires robust and dynamic policies that are well-grounded on the rule of law, democracy and respect for human rights. At the same time, under no circumstances should countering terrorism be used as justification for the violation of human and people's rights. The expert consultative meeting will issue a political declaration on a draft ECOWAS Common Position against Terrorism.
