Battlefield Evidence Workstream

The collection, analysis, sharing and use of battlefield evidence — materials and information gathered by military forces — can be complex and challenging, yet this material can be effective in holding those who commit terrorist actions or support terrorist organisations accountable through civilian criminal investigation and prosecution.

Since 2019, the IIJ has led efforts to promote the implementation of the Non-Binding Guiding Principles on Use of Battlefield Evidence in Civilian Criminal Proceedings developed by the U.S. Departments of State, Justice and Defense in response to concerns from partner countries regarding the collection, sharing, analysis and introduction of such evidence in terrorism cases. The Guiding Principles were presented at the IIJ Battlefield Evidence Global Workshop in 2019. The IIJ has also integrated into its curriculum on this important workstream the UN’s guidelines on military evidence. Explore our Practitioner Tools & Publications at the end of this page.

With support from the

Government of the United States
SPOTLIGHT
Senior Leaders Seminar

In December 2019, the IIJ, in partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau for Counterterrorism, convened a Battlefield Evidence Senior Leaders Seminar (SLS) in Malta. The Seminar focused on how material collected or received by military personnel can be used more effectively to interdict, investigate, arrest, try and prosecute terrorists in civilian criminal justice proceedings. This high-level Seminar gathered more than 100 senior military and law enforcement officials, counter-terrorism policymakers, and representatives from key multilateral institutions. Collectively, the participants represented 35 countries and 11 organisations, among them the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (UN CTED), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), NATO, INTERPOL, European Union, Council of Europe, Eurojust, and the Commission for International Justice and Accountability (CIJA).

Watch the video to hear from Senior Leaders

In Action

IIJ Battlefield Evidence Workstream: Meeting on Battlefield Evidence from Afghanistan and Beyond

In September 2022, the IIJ welcomed 45 practitioners and policymakers from the United States and European Government agencies, EU institutions and select multilateral institutions for a meeting on Battlefield Evidence from Afghanistan and Beyond, held with...

Battlefield Evidence and Criminal Justice Approaches to Counter-Terrorism: Online UNGA76 Side Event

In September, in the margins of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly, the IIJ held a highly successful online side event on Battlefield Evidence and Criminal Justice Approaches to Counter-Terrorism. The event, co-hosted with...

IIJ Battlefield Evidence Workstream: West Africa Workshop

In February 2020, the IIJ convened a West Africa Workshop in Abuja under the auspices of the IIJ Battlefield Evidence Workstream. The workshop was co-hosted by the Government of Nigeria, with support from the U.S. Department...

IIJ Battlefield Evidence Workstream: Senior Leaders Seminar

In December 2019, the IIJ, in partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau for Counterterrorism, convened a Battlefield Evidence Senior Leaders Seminar (SLS) in Malta. The Seminar focused on how material collected or received by...

Practitioner Tools & Resources

Non-Binding Guiding Principles on Use of Battlefield Evidence in Civilian Criminal Proceedings

Guidelines to facilitate the use and admissibility as evidence in national criminal courts of information collected, handled, preserved and shared by the military to prosecute terrorist offences

Abuja Recommendations on the Collection, Use and Sharing of Evidence for Purposes of Criminal Prosecution of Terrorist Suspects

UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy