As part of its project “Human Rights and Counter-Terrorism: Capacity-building Support to Law Enforcement and Intelligence Services in Iraq”, the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), organized two workshops in Erbil on 22 and 25 November 2025. The workshops were held in collaboration with the National Security Advisory (NSA) of the Republic of Iraq and funded by the Government of Canada.
The workshops aimed to strengthen the capacity of Iraqi counter-terrorism professionals working in the Anbar and Salah Al-Din governorates to conduct investigations in compliance with international human rights standards. The 56 participants included officers from law enforcement and intelligence agencies, representatives of the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights (IHCHR), and members of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), as well as civil society organizations from both governorates.
Through interactive sessions, practical exercises, and expert-led discussions, the workshops examined how human rights considerations can be effectively integrated into counter-terrorism investigations, including through appropriate interview techniques, attention to psychological aspects, stress management, and adherence to international legal human rights standards in the conduct of interrogation.
These were the 13th and 14th workshops organized under this capacity-building initiative led by UNOCT in cooperation with the NSA, re-affirming the Republic of Iraq’s commitment to integrating human rights into counter-terrorism practices.
