Panel Discussions - Monday, June 14, 2010
IPI Holds Roundtable Discussion on UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy
Following the institutionalization of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF) in 2009, there has been a great deal of discussion about its role and function and its relationship to other UN bodies addressing global terrorism. In light of the forthcoming review of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy on September 8, 2010, the International Peace Institute hosted a closed-door roundtable on June 14th for members of the CTITF Office and several constituent members of the CTITF.
Three key issues were highlighted at the meeting. First was the importance of raising greater awareness about, and encouraging utilization of, the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, to foster a more holistic approach to addressing terrorism. The Strategy promotes four pillars of action: addressing conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism, preventing and combating terrorism, building states’ counterterrorism capacities, and ensuring respect for human rights in all counterterrorism efforts. Participants explored ways in which the CTITF could focus its energies on addressing pillar one, in particular.
Second, the discussions covered means of strengthening the CTITF’s relationships with regional organizations, with the Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism (CICTE) at the Organization of American States (OAS) providing an exemplary model. The third element addressed was opportunities to promote engagement with civil society, where appropriate, in furthering global counterterrorism initiatives.
The roundtable, entitled, “The United Nations Counter Terrorism Implementation Task Force: Promoting Awareness and Strengthening Partnerships to Counter Terrorism,” was chaired by IPI Senior Vice President Edward C. Luck, and featured Jean-Paul Laborde, Special Adviser to Under Secretary-General B. Lynn Pascoe and currently leading the CTITF Office.
Participants included representatives from some member states, and officials representing the Executive Office of the Secretary-General, the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate, the Organization of American States, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and experts from the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, as well as the CTITF.
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Read about IPI’s work on countering global terrorism
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