Strengthening Global Cooperation: CT JUST and the Arab League Unite Against Terrorism

From October 7-9, 2024, the picturesque city of Málaga, Spain, played host to an important event in the global fight against terrorism. Representatives from eight countries across the Middle East and North Africa gathered for the CT JUST Workshop, aimed at enhancing international collaboration in counterterrorism efforts.

Officials from Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia, along with experts from the Arab Center for Legal and Judicial Research, focused on finding innovative ways to work together more effectively. The spotlight was on empowering Liaison Magistrates—key players who help improve communication between countries’ judicial systems—and developing secure digital platforms to make cooperation smoother and faster.

Two newly formed working groups used the workshop to propose a detailed plan for improving international judicial collaboration. Their goal? To present a comprehensive strategy to the Arab League’s Council of Ministers of Justice by 2025, enhancing the ability of member states to respond to cross-border threats with speed and trust.

Julián Cabrero López, senior judge and CT JUST’s lead coordinator for the workshop, emphasised the event’s significance. “This collaboration reaffirms the commitment between the Arab League and the European Union to strengthen international security. It builds on key dialogues held in Cairo in 2022 and shows that both regions are serious about turning those talks into action,” he said.

With this workshop, CT JUST reinforced its mission to strengthen the judicial systems of MENA countries in their fight against terrorism, ensuring that countries can act quickly and effectively, together, to safeguard their citizens.