With the support of EUAM Iraq, the EU Delegation in Iraq and the NATO Mission in Iraq the third workshop in a series of five on forensic technics was organised to improve the technical and investigative skills of Ministry of Interior law enforcement officers in dealing with counter-terrorism. European experts conducted this training in the framework of a two-year EU-funded programme “CT JUST”. EUAM Iraq, in close collaboration with the EU Delegation, is actively engaged in ensuring the effective execution and implementation of this comprehensive programme. 

We asked our Senior Strategic Advisers on countering terrorism to share their impressions so far: 

How does CT JUST contribute to improve the competencies to fight terrorism? 

The CT JUST programme focuses on strengthening the law enforcement chain. This is critical to building a robust, fair and effective security sector in any country. The sessions aim to equip Iraqi law enforcement and intelligence services with appropriate techniques and create a mindset among participants that recognises the obvious benefits of a strong and transparent law enforcement chain, with a focus on practical skills, application of international standards and legal preparation.

What makes the collaboration between the Mission, CT JUST and the Ministry of Interior so fruitful?

The strength of this programme is that it is supported at the highest Iraqi level, as evidenced by the presence of senior management representatives of the Ministry of Interior during the opining and closure ceremonies. That we, as a Mission, combine our knowledge of the country with the extensive expertise of the CT JUST experts from other projects for the benefit of the participants.

How is the engagement of the participants?

With a total of 60 Iraqi police officers the sessions are very well attended. The commitment of the participants and their discipline during the presentations and work groups also motivates us as facilitators and initiators, as it shows that the content is exactly what they expect and that these trainings are really necessary. The participants have a solid knowledge base to build on and this specialised training helps them to improve their methods and understanding of complex crime scene work.