Preventing and responding to terrorist kidnapping and hostage-taking

This  counterterrorism workshop will bring together experts from across the Mediterranean region and beyond, to exchange information and good practices, and strengthen co-operation in order to better prevent and thwart kidnappings and hostage-taking in the region.

Evidence suggests that terrorist organizations have been increasingly involved in kidnapping for ransom and political concessions particularly in the Middle East, North Africa, the Sahel and the Mediterranean region. The ransom profits allow terrorist and criminal organizations to grow, recruit persons or buy weapons, thereby also impacting the security of these regions.

Senior counterterrorism practitioners in the areas of law enforcement, judiciary and prosecution, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and crisis management will explore the international frameworks and provide recommendations related to kidnapping and hostage-taking. Additionally the workshop aims at enhancing national regional and international co-operation in tracking the flows of money that finance terrorists, through financial investigations as well as through appropriate responses and prevention.

The workshop is organized jointly by the OSCE and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime under the auspices of the Government of Malta and with the support of Liechtenstein, Spain and Switzerland.