On 1 March Somali Prosecutors and Maritime Police Officers concluded a three-day Maritime Legal Seminar in Mogadishu organized by EUCAP Somalia in cooperation with EU NAVFOR Atalanta.
The seminar is part of an on-going effort to help strengthen the cooperation between Somali police and prosecutors, EUCAP Somalia said. It is the third seminar the Mission (previously named EUCAP Nestor) has organised for police and prosecution in Mogadishu, the first two were in September and November 2016.
EUCAP Somalia’s Legal Advisor, Senior Police Advisor and EUNAVFOR Operation Atalanta’s Legal Advisor held lectures and discussions with the ten participants, including a female prosecutor.
Several legal and security related topics were discussed including: Cooperation between police and the prosecution, the Somali legal system for the Maritime Police Unit, and activities and achievements of EUNAVFOR Atalanta in disrupting and suppressing piracy, including the legal framework that supports the counter-piracy mission.
Among the many topics discussed during the seminar were also: possible maritime criminal cases, criminal investigations, the Somali Criminal Procedure Code, the principles of crime scene management and the chain of evidence.
Gender was discussed in the context of Somalia’s cultural, historical and religious background, with reference to the United Nation Security Council Resolution 1325, which calls for the protection of women and girls from sexual and gender-based violence. Human Rights and Gender are included in all the Operational activities of EUCAP Somalia.
