In July 2022, the IIJ in partnership with The U.S. Department of Justice/OPDAT in Burkina Faso organized a workshop for 29 Burkinabè practitioners including investigators, judges, defence counsel, prison officials, social workers, civil society, and representatives from the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Gender and Family of Burkina Faso. In addition, presentations from six international experts and the IIJ enriched the event.
The main objective of the workshop was to build the capacity of these practitioners to understand the rationale behind protecting children’s rights and address issues relating to the investigation and prosecution of children affected by terrorism, in line with international legal norms and standards.
Sessions featured presentations from distinguished speakers on juvenile brain development, the role of investigators, prosecutors, juvenile judges, detention personnel and the importance of multi-agency collaboration when dealing with children in terrorism cases. In addition, the workshop provided an excellent opportunity for participating practitioners to foster collaboration and gain from the expertise and skills of experienced juvenile justice experts on handling minors affected by terrorism in compliance with international legal norms and standards.
On the final day, practitioners engaged in breakout group sessions to draft a tailored action plan consisting of practical solutions to overcome challenges in dealing with children in a counter-terrorism context in Burkina Faso with fewer resources and without changing the existing law.
For more information on this workshop, please contact Programme Manager Emerson Cachon.
