New Chair outlines priorities in first Counter-Terrorism Committee plenary of the year
On 25 January 2018, H.E. Gustavo Meza-Cuadra Velásquez, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Peru to the United Nations, chaired his first meeting of the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC). In the meeting, which marked this year’s initial CTC plenary, Ambassador Meza-Cuadra Velásquez outlined the Committee’s priorities for the year. This followed his election as Chair of the Committee, a role he assumed on 1 January 2018.
Mr. Gustavo Meza-Cuadra Velásquez, Chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee.
Reports on CTED achievements and vision for the future available as Security Council document
The Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) is a Special Political Mission of the United Nations. As its mandate was about to reach the end of its four-year term in December 2017, CTED provided the Security Council with two documents – one on the Executive Directorate’s activities and achievements 2014-2017, and one vision paper with suggestions for the forthcoming mandate (2018-2021).
The Security Council adopts resolution 2395 (2017), renewing CTED’s mandate.
Heads of United Nations counter-terrorism bodies conclude joint visit to Iraq
On 7 March 2018, Mr. Vladimir Voronkov, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), and Ms. Michèle Coninsx, Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), concluded yesterday a two-day visit to Iraq at the invitation of the Government and with the support of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).
Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact signed – highlights importance of CTED assessments
On 1 February 2018, the United Nations Secretary-General and 36 UN entities, including the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), as well as INTERPOL and the World Customs Organization, agreed to a Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact. Adding transparency to the UN’s work in the area of counter-terrorism, the Compact will support the implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, involve UN Country Teams in counter-terrorism activities, help share relevant capacity-building and coordination and coherence related information with the Compact’s members, develop mutually reinforcing capacity-building projects, and establish a joint resource mobilization and outreach strategy with donors.
CTED Executive Director Michèle Coninsx signs the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact (together with Head of UN OCT, Under-Secretary-General Voronkov).
Acting on behalf of the Counter-Terrorism Committee, its Executive Directorate (CTED) conducted a three-day follow-up visit to Greece from 30 January to 1 February 2018. The aim of the visit was to discuss Greece’s progress in implementing Security Council resolutions 1373 (2001), 1624 (2005), and 2178 (2014), on stemming the flow of foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs).
CTED Executive Director stresses continued need for global judicial and law enforcement cooperation against ISIL – signs Joint Action Plan with INTERPOL
At a conference in Washington, DC, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General Michèle Coninsx stressed the continued need for global cooperation by judicial and law enforcement bodies to counter the threat posed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as Da’esh).
CTED Executive Director Coninsx addressing the participants.
CTED Executive Director participates in CSW62 #WomenAgainstTerrorism event
“Gender-blind counter-terrorism policies and practices have the potential of not only being ineffective, but to also negatively impact women and girls’ rights.” This was one of the key messages pronounced by Michèle Coninsx, Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), in an event during the 62nd Commission on the Status of Women (CSW62). Organized on 12 March 2018 by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and UN Women at the UN in New York, the panel discussion on The United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy: Advancing Women’s Leadership and Participation also saw the participation of the UN Ambassadors of Japan and the United Arab Emirates.
Acting on behalf of the Counter-Terrorism Committee, its Executive Directorate (CTED) conducted a three-day focused visit to Switzerland from 27 February to 1 March 2018.
The aim of the visit was to discuss Switzerland’s progress in implementing Security Council resolutions 1373 (2001) and 1624 (2005), and Council resolution 2178 (2014), on stemming the flow of foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs).
First Declaration of cooperation between Prosecutors General from Europe and the Mediterranean countries on international judicial matters
On 23 January 2018, Prosecutors General from Europe and Mediterranean countries (Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, and Tunisia) signed an agreement aimed at improving their international judicial cooperation. The signing of the first Declaration of collaboration in the two regions took place under the impetus of a programme financed by the European Commission for cooperation between the countries of Europe and the Mediterranean, EuroMed Justice. A partner of EuroMed since the very beginning, the United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) assisted in the drafting of the declaration as part of its efforts to actively promote cross-regional cooperation.
South Asia workshop helps develop habits of cooperation to effectively counter terrorism
On 11 January 2018, the 13th Regional workshop for judges, prosecutors, and police officers on effectively countering terrorism in South Asia concluded after three full days. The workshop, which was held in Bangkok Thailand, was organized by the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), in cooperation with the Global Center on Cooperative Security, with financial support from the Governments of Japan and Australia.
On 30 and 31 January 2018, CTED and INTERPOL held a two-day training session at INTERPOL Headquarters in Lyon (30-31 January) to familiarize INTERPOL experts with the provisions of the relevant Security Council resolutions on terrorism — especially their provisions on police cooperation. The training session also served to raise participants’ awareness of the purpose, objectives, and expected outcomes of the Committee’s assessment visits, as well as the nature of the Committee’s follow-up activities.
Second Asia counter-terrorism workshop focused on information and communications technologies held in Bangkok
On 24 and 25 January 2018, a workshop on information and communications technologies (ICT) and counter-terrorism (CT) was held in Bangkok. Co-hosted by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea and Thailand, this was the 2nd Asia ICT and CT Dialogue involving the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) with a focus on exploring practical ways to strengthen the implementation of all relevant Security Council resolutions in this area.
In its resolution 2395 (2017), the Security Council reiterated the essential role of CTED to identify and assess issues, trends and developments relating to the implementation of resolutions 1373 (2001), 1624 (2005), and 2178 (2014), and the importance of working with relevant partners in doing so, including the Global Research Network (GRN). The GRN consists of more than 100 leading think tanks and research institutions from across the world.
In early March 2018, CTED launched a new research digest, which aims to highlight evidence-based research conducted by GRN members on trends and thematic issues of relevance to the counter-terrorism policymaking community.
Issue 1 focused on the challenges posed by returning or relocating Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTF), including the evolution in Member State responses and the FTF mobilization to Libya. To read issue 1, click here, and to subscribe to future CTED research digests, click here.
