Tackle illicit funding to combat terrorism- experts say

Nov 02, 2019

Ladan told the audience at Munyonyo Speke Resort Speke Hotel that despite the crackdown on terrorism, the group has continued to thrive.

JUDICIARY   TERRORISM 

KAMPALA - The Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced legal studies, Prof. Muhammed Ladan, has asked African governments to target the sources of funding to curb terrorism.

Ladan told the audience at Munyonyo Speke Resort Speke Hotel that despite the crackdown on terrorism, the group has continued to thrive because African governments are not doing enough to stop the funding of terrorism.

"An effective counterinsurgency strategy requires coordinated and sustained legislative, administrative and judicial approaches that address the socio-economic and political factors encouraging the recruitment of youth by terrorist groups, financing terrorism proliferation and demand for small arms and concurrently tackle the outlet through which illicit arms are proliferation," Ladan.

Ladan made the remarks at the Fourth African Judicial Dialogue while addressing judges and representatives from 43 African countries on tackling contemporary Human Rights Issues.

"Terrorism clearly has a very real and direct impact on human rights, with devastating consequences for the enjoyment of the right to life, liberty and physical integrity of victims.

In addition to these individual costs, terrorism can destabilise Governments, undermine civil society, jeopardize peace and security, and threaten social and economic development. All of these also have a real impact on the enjoyment of human rights," Ladan.

During the dialogue, participants noted that terrorist act constitutes a violation of human rights, including the right to life, peace and also affect the ability of States to promote and protect the rights of citizens.

Participants encouraged the African Union (AU) the Member States to adopt and implement international and regional instruments on terrorism and to provide an appropriate legal framework to combat terrorism.

It was agreed by the participants that the judiciary should be an instrument to spearhead the fight against terrorism with respect for human rights.

"States must ensure that any measures taken to combat terrorism comply with obligations under international law," Ladan said.

 

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