Jean-Paul Laborde, Chair of the UN Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF) and Director of its office, reiterated the importance of effective, comprehensive and global implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy while speaking during a series of panel discussions co-hosted by the International Peace Institute and the CTITF.

“Today, we look around us and we see terrorism as much a threat to human life, human dignity and human welfare as it was nearly ten years ago or more,” Mr. Laborde said. “What is required from all of us is to bring our strengths, our range of expertise, our resources and our commitment together to fight this menace in a coordinated manner, consistent with our cherished ideals and principles that are contained in the United Nations Charter.”

These discussions, held on September 7-9, 2010 to coincide with the General Assembly’s review of the Strategy on September 8th, allowed the attending high-level government representatives, diplomats, experts and UN officials to exchange perspectives, experiences and ideas on how states and the UN might best further the Strategy’s recommendations.

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As the terrorist threat is constantly evolving, the biennial review provides the international community a valuable opportunity to reassess the nature of the challenge and the possible responses of the multilateral system. Among key challenges that panelists focused on were the importance of capacity-building to counter terrorism; mitigating terrorist use of weapons of mass destruction and the internet, the role of civil society and the necessity of upholding human rights for effective counterterrorism.

In addition to the panels, three important events were hosted by the Center for Global Counterterrorism Cooperation (CGCTC) and the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the UN. A report produced by CGCTC, which was launched at a lunch on September 7, 2010, presented a strategic assessment of the UN’s counterterrorism program. A reception also hosted by CGCC and the Global Survivors Network showcased a new documentary film, Killing in the Name, highlighting the impact of terrorism on its victims and promoting greater attention to this issue at the UN. On September 8th, a Swiss-led initiative to bring together national counterterrorism focal points was showcased at a lunchtime panel discussion, and plans to support initiatives to raise awareness of the Global Strategy in various regions, starting with Southeast Asia, were presented.

Warren Hoge, IPI Vice-President for External Relations, opened the meeting, while IPI Senior Policy Analyst Naureen Chowdhury Fink moderated several panels and presented closing remarks.

Related Links:
• Reviewing the UN’s Counterterrorism Efforts by Naureen Chowdhury Fink
• IPI’s work on counterterrorism