Legislators and experts work together on human rights-compliant policies for prosecution, rehabilitation and reintegration of foreign terrorist fighters in South-Eastern Europe

Legislators and experts discussed strategies and policies for effective and human rights-compliant prosecution, rehabilitation, and reintegration of foreign terrorist fighters and their families in South-Eastern Europe and neighboring countries at a Regional Policy Dialogue held in blended format on 14 and 15 October 2021 in Vienna.

“The return, rehabilitation and reintegration of foreign terrorist fighters and their families remains a major challenge,” said Alena Kupchyna, OSCE Co-ordinator of Activities to Address Transnational Threats, during her opening remarks. To address this challenge, she said, “Parliamentarians have an important role to play. As representatives of the people, they are the principal stakeholders to identify lasting solutions to address the threat of terrorism and violent extremism.”

The meeting was organized by the OSCE in co-operation with the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA). It gathered more than 50 parliamentarians and representatives from relevant legislative committees from around South-Eastern Europe and select neighboring countries as well as experts and representatives from the OSCE and OSCE PA, including from the OSCE PA’s Ad Hoc Committee on Countering Terrorism.

Throughout three thematic discussions, participants discussed ways to align policies related to political, operational, legal and social challenges, as well as to effectively implement international standards and shape human rights-compliant legislation, institutions and procedures related to the return or repatriation of foreign terrorist fighters and their family members. They also exchanged experiences and lessons learned on topics such as evidence collection for prosecution, as well as rehabilitation and reintegration programmes, particularly for women and children.

A co-operative, human rights-based approach is a “key prerequisite” for addressing challenges related to foreign terrorist fighters, said Margareta Cederfelt, President of the OSCE PA. Outlining how the OSCE and its Parliamentary Assembly can jointly support participating States, she said parliamentarians’ “rather unique legislative, oversight, budgetary and bridge-making powers make us valuable assets in the global fight against terrorism and violent extremism.”

Turning to wider efforts related to countering terrorism and violent extremism, Maria Gratschew, Counsellor at the Swedish Permanent Delegation to the OSCE and representative of the 2021 Swedish OSCE Chairpersonship, said: “When taking measures to prevent and counter radicalization leading to violent extremism and terrorism, then human rights, principles of democracy and proportionality must be ensured. Similarly, good governance, transparency and accountability must be upheld. Parliamentarians, as lawmakers and representatives of the public, play a crucial role in this regard.”