A Global Partnership for Witness Protection in Pakistan – UNODC and EU Capacity Building Workshop for CTD Officials

28-30, 2024, Islamabad – With financial support from the European Union (EU), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) successfully organized a three-day workshop on witness protection for Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) officials and prosecution services from two major provinces of Pakistan. The workshop, held in Islamabad from October 28 to 30, 2024, brought together 24 officials from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and provided an in-depth insight into local and international witness protection frameworks, including the Punjab Witness Protection Act (2018). , the Balochistan Witness Protection Act (2016), and relevant provisions in the Anti-Terrorism Act (1997). Particular emphasis was placed on international best practices and the role of United Nations conventions in strengthening witness protection mechanisms.

The workshop consisted of a combination of expert presentations and interactive group exercises. Participants drafted witness protection applications, discussed the legal obligations of law enforcement agencies, and role-played various scenarios related to witness reinstatement and identity protection. This practice-oriented approach created a dynamic learning environment in which civil servants could apply their knowledge in practical exercises.