Two-day counterterrorism programme kicks off

Representatives from 15 member states are in Windhoek for a two-day conference with the United Nations Countering Terrorists Travel Programme.

The initiative, launched in 2019 by the United Nations Office of Counterterrorism (UNOTC), assists beneficiary member states in building their capabilities to detect and counter terrorists and serious criminals by using travel information, including advance passenger information (API) and passenger name record (PNR) data.

This is aimed at improving the use of international databases with known and suspected terrorists and criminals, and enhancing regional and international information exchange.

Deputy home affairs minister Lucia Witbooi said the platform is particularly important as people move around globally for various reasons and need to be kept safe. "To address challenges attached to migration, we must rely on accurate and comprehensive data to inform our planning and decisions. By collecting data on the numbers, demographics and reasons for migration, we can tailor policies catering to the unique needs of individuals who are migrating," she said.