DTP Anti-Terrorism Policy
1. Goals of DTP
Through this policy the Diplomacy Training Program aims to:
(a) ensure that DTP’s funds and resources are not being used, directly or indirectly, to support terrorist activities;
(b) ensure DTP’s reputation for practical support for human rights and sustainable development is not compromised through any inadvertent support for terrorist activities;
(c) ensure continued community support for DTP’s capacity building programs on human rights and advocacy;
(d) provide clear guidance to DTP staff and Board members on appropriate action to take in circumstances or situations where they become aware of terrorist activity.
2. Scope
This policy will guide the approach and actions of the DTP Board of Directors, all its employees, and volunteers. The policy will be made available to them and to DTP’s partner organisations.
Support for terrorist activity is a criminal offence under Australian domestic law. The Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) sets out criminal penalties for providing support intentionally or recklessly by ‘getting funds to or from a terrorist organisation’ (section 102.6), ‘providing support to a terrorist organisation’ (section 102.7) and ‘financing terrorism’ (section 103.1).
The Charter of the United Nations Act 1945 (Cth) also sets out penalties for making assets available to a proscribed person or entity.
3. Guiding Principles
DTP is solely an educational institution and has no sectarian or political affiliations. DTP’s commitment to empowering civil society, and to participatory methods of teaching and learning, are consistent with and reflect good development practice.
DTP is committed to working in partnership with others, and to recognising the knowledge, skills and perspectives of its partners and the participants in its programs. DTP recognises its responsibility for the funds it disburses through its program partners. DTP’s courses emphasise peaceful, non-violent, and collaborative approaches to seek justice and redress and remedy for human rights abuses using the redress mechanisms that are available and developing the skills of dialogue, negotiation and engagement.
DTP recognises that the clear objective of the Australian aid program is to advance Australia’s national interests by assisting developing countries to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development.
DTP seeks to promote and respect the human rights that belong to everyone, everywhere by virtue of their humanity. Acts of terror, and the promotion of terrorism are inconsistent with, and contrary to, the values of human dignity that human rights standards affirm and uphold. DTP has developed its counter-terrorism policy in accordance with the best practice principles outlined by the Australian Government and DTP’s commitment to universal standards of human rights.
4. Implementation
The level of risk of misuse of funds from DTP by terrorist organisations has been assessed as low. A limited amount of funding is disbursed to program partners to meet the costs associated with programs and partners provide a financial report and receipts for all expenses. DTP’s partnerships are developed with organisations that share DTP’s commitment to human rights and who are known to DTP through previous engagement or are recommended by DTP’s international advisory council, alumni, partners and trainers.
DTP will:
• Ensure all DTP external policies including DTP’s anti-terrorism policy are made available on request, including to job applicants, volunteers and interns and to DTP’s partner organisations.
• Undertake referee checks for all potential DTP employees.
• Only enter into partnerships with organisations that share DTP’s commitment to human rights and human dignity and inform DTP’s partner organisations that DTP is committed to peace and human rights and has an anti-terrorism policy.
• Before disbursing or distributing funds to any organisation will check and confirm that they are not on the lists of proscribed organisations maintained by the Australian Government as set out on the Australian Government’s National Security Website.
• Will ensure through effective acquittal and auditing processes that any funds distributed as part of its programs are not used to support or promote terrorist activities.
• Will notify DFAT immediately if it becomes aware of any links between DFAT funds or an DFAT-assisted organisation and a terrorist organisation.
• Ensure that its financial operations are fully transparent and accountable. As such this policy should be viewed in conjunction with the DTP Prevention of Financial Wrongdoing Policy.
• Integrate this policy into its procedures and programs manuals.
• Review and renew this policy every 3 years.
5. Reviewing this Policy
The DTP Board of Directors adopted this policy on Anti-Terrorism
Date of First Adoption: November 2012
Date of Revision: January 2018
Date of Adoption of Revised Policy: February 2018