ACTIVITIES OF THE TRANSNATIONAL THREATS DEPARTMENT On 31 August and 1 September, TNTD/SPMU organized a joint Regional Workshop on Enhancing and Strengthening International and Cross-border Co-operation in Addressing Migration-related Crime in the Western Balkans with IOM and UNODC, and in collaboration with the OSCE Mission to Montenegro. The workshop, held in Podgorica, Montenegro, aimed to promote interactive discussions on persistent challenges regarding migration-related crime, and to identify efficient measures and possible shortcomings in international and cross-border co-operation. The subjects of prevention, prosecution and assistance provided to victims, migrants and refugees were closely examined. The workshop gathered over 100 senior experts from criminal justice and migration authorities, including law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judges, officials from relevant ministries, liaison officers based in the Western Balkans and representatives of international and non-governmental organizations dealing with migration-related crimes. Counter-Terrorism & VERLT On 27 and 28 April, TNTD/SPMU participated in a working meeting on the joint TNTD-ODIHR training module on Human Rights in Counter-Terrorism Investigations at ODIHR headquarters in Warsaw, Poland. The purpose of the meeting was to evaluate a first draft of a curriculum outline prepared by an external consultant, and to develop scenarios for case studies based on information obtained through several interviews of experienced international counter-terrorism investigators. Five human rights experts from ODIHR, two international counter-terrorism investigators and TNTD/ SPMU participated in this working meeting, which resulted in the development and drafting of two scenarios that will be used as training material. On 6 and 7 September, TNTD/SPMU attended the OSCE National Seminar on Strengthening Rule of Law Compliant Criminal Justice Reponses to Terrorism in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. TNTD/SPMU was invited to deliver a presentation on “Practical Measure for Undercover Investigations of Terrorist Suspects or Organizations” On 17 and 18 October, TNTD/SPMU, jointly with ODIHR, organized a joint pilot training module on human rights in counter-terrorism investigations for 17 law enforcement managers from the Albanian State Police, the Albanian State Security Service and the Office of the Prosecutor General. This training was followed by a second pilot training in Madrid, Spain on 17 and 18 November. Based on these two pilot trainings, a finalized training package on the subject is envisaged early 2017. Illicit Drugs and Chemical Precursors On 16 and 17 February, TNTD/SPMU organized a two-day event in Minsk at the request of the Republic of Belarus and as a follow-up to relevant outcomes from the 2014 and 2015 OSCE Anti-Drug Conferences. Experts from Belarus, Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, the Russian Federation and Ukraine discussed national legislative measures, procedures and operational practices in dealing with the diversion and supply of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) in Eastern Europe. Special attention was given to information exchange, the promotion of best practices and strengthening networks between law enforcement authorities in the region. The event was designed to assist law enforcement authorities from these OSCE participating States in strengthening and enhancing national and regional capacities, as well as legislative measures and mechanisms, when dealing with NPS. On 17 March, Co/TNTD met with the Minister of CounterNarcotics and the General Director (GD) for Policy and Analysis at the Ministry of Counter-Narcotics of Afghanistan. The Minister expressed her appreciation that the Asian Conference from 6 to 7 June would focus, among others, on a counter-narcotics element, namely the use of revenues from illicit drugs for terrorism financing. She also welcomed the session focusing on “Promoting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to ensure peace and prosperity”. Regarding the OSCE’s continued support for Afghanistan, she proposed a number of initiatives. The GD highlighted the adoption of the National Drug Action Plan in 2015 as an important achievement, and reported that the Ministry was focusing on both the reduction of opium cultivation production and on raising public awareness. He added that his Ministry would rely on international and regional cooperation in the implementation of the Action Plan. In the lead up to the UN General Assembly special session on the world drug problem (UNGASS), on 24 February and from 14 to 22 March, TNTD/SPMU participated as an observer in meetings as part of the 59th session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), held at the UNODC’s headquarters in Vienna. During the first meeting, delegates reviewed the second draft of the outcome document for the UNGASS. During the second meeting, an action-oriented outcome document; “Our joint commitment to effectively addressing and countering the world drug problem” was adopted and tabled at UNGASS 2016. TNTD/SPMU participated in a number of side events on topics including combating new psychoactive substances, perspectives for UNGASS 2016, protecting youth against illicit drugs, and a survey of illicit drug production in Afghanistan. Information shared and discussed by participants was beneficial for the planning of future OSCE drug-related activities. 21