As part of efforts by the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) to encourage stronger accountability and oversight of law enforcement and intelligence activities, CTED facilitated a knowledge-sharing session for 14 officers from the Maldives’ National Integrity Commission (NIC), in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The NIC, an institution dedicated to ensuring the accountability of Maldives’ law enforcement officers for any violations of their code of conduct, plays a crucial role in maintaining the rule of law and public trust in the country. This week’s training session focused on key pillars of oversight, providing NIC officers with knowledge and tools necessary to conduct effective reviews, including in the context of counter-terrorism.
The session was led by the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency (NSIRA) of Canada, an independent expert body tasked with reviewing and investigating the lawfulness, reasonableness, and necessity of national security and intelligence activities in Canada.
During the training, participants engaged with concepts related to the review and prioritization of mechanisms essential for effective oversight of law enforcement agencies. The agenda covered a wide range of topics, including the fundamental principles of conducting reviews, selecting topics for review, prioritizing reviews, and the necessary resources and tools to achieve meaningful outcomes.
The officers from the NIC participated actively in plenary sessions and breakout groups, reflecting their commitment to improving their oversight capabilities. The interactive nature of the training ensured that the officers could exchange ideas, share experiences, and learn from one another as well as from the NSIRA experts.
Officers expressed their appreciation for the practical knowledge gained during the sessions. Looking ahead, CTED and UNODC plan to build on the momentum generated by this training with further engagements and additional training sessions by NSIRA.