CTC
SPECIAL MEETING WITH INTERNATIONAL, REGIONAL AND SUB-REGIONAL ORGANISATIONS: 6
MARCH
CHECKLIST
OF POINTS TO COVER
Session I:
Global Standards
Raising
awareness of existing global standards. Session
I should give participants a sense of the broad scope of global standards on CT
underpinning the headline of 1373. We
should not aim to have the CTC formally adopt other global standards. But the
CTC could embrace and promote standards developed by other IROs in the field of
counter-terrorism and which are relevant to the implementation of 1373.
The Action
Plan might:
·
Commit
the CTC to create a “global standards” section on its website, in which
information could be placed on standards in the field of counter-terrorism – so
that States can access at a central point information which might be relevant
to the implementation of 1373;
·
Commit
the CTC to invite IROs to submit information on any such standards in the
correct “web-friendly” format, and encourage IROs to respond. Set timetable for
action, linked to follow-up meeting.
Development
of new standards. The
20 January Ministerial Declaration appealed to technical agencies dealing with
the control of and access to nuclear, chemical, biological and other deadly
materials to enhance the effectiveness of their action against terrorism. The
CTC should pursue this with IAEA and OPCW.
The Action
Plan might:
·
Commit
the CTC to follow up with IOs in general, and IAEA and OPCW in particular, and recommend
that these organisations should report back to the CTC on plans in this
area. The timing should be linked to
follow-up meeting.
Sharing
information on implementation of global standards. Session I should conclude that contact is
needed between the CTC and other organisations monitoring States’
implementation of global standards, and between other such organisation
themselves. We should not try to
delegate the monitoring of 1373, or formally divide the work, because the CTC
must monitor the whole of 1373. But the CTC could set up a framework for the
exchange of information on States’ adherence to global standards.
The Action
Plan might:
·
Commit
the CTC Experts to contacting each IO to explore avenues of cooperation and
information exchange;
·
Set
criteria for the use of any information (it will be received by the Experts
only, in confidence, and will inform analysis, not take the place of
monitoring performed by each organisation). Explain practically how this might
work;
·
Encourage
other organisations with relevant mandates to participate in sharing
information in this area;
·
Establish
timetables, to be linked to follow-up meeting.
The action
plan could also propose the creation of a centralised database of
non-compliers, if there was consensus in the CTC that this would be helpful.
Helping
States meet global obligations. It would be useful if Session I
concluded that IOs should do what they can to help States meet their
obligations. Their efforts in this area might be included in the CTC’s “Directory
of CT Information and Sources of Assistance”, such as guidance on
implementation and details on accessing tailored assistance programmes.
The Action
Plan might:
·
Encourage
IOs to contribute information to the CTC’s Directory;
·
Encourage
IOs to develop guidance notes on implementing their own global standards, and
place copies on the CTC’s Directory;
·
Remind
all IROs and Governments that their CT standards must be compatible with other international
obligations, including in the area of human rights;
·
Establish
timetables linked to follow-up meeting.
Session II:
Role of Regional Organisations
Role of
ROs in facilitating states implementation of global standards.
Some regional organisations have more experience than others at
encouraging their members to meet international standards. It would be useful
if Session II concluded that ROs should share experience on their approach to
this.
The Action
Plan might:
·
Invite
one or two ROs to develop a “starter pack” explaining how they developed a
regional dialogue on international
requirements;
·
Encourage
ROs to discuss this in meetings with each other, and offer assistance to each
other as appropriate;
·
Encourage
ROs to consider whether their mandate should formally encompass this;
·
Establish
timetables linked to follow-up meeting.
Role of
ROs in facilitating practical cooperation. All
regional organisations are likely to have some experience of practical
cooperation, although not all will have such experience in the CT field.
The Action
Plan might:
·
Commit
the CTC to devoting an area of its website to examples of practical
cooperation, with details of successes and outcomes. This would provide a one-stop shop for regional organisations
looking to develop their own roles;
·
Commit
the CTC to hosting a follow-up meeting with ROs only;
·
Encourage
ROs to develop practical coordination with each other, and report to the CTC on
the results. The reports could be
collated by the CTC and published six months after the Special Meeting.
Session III:
Assistance
Facilitating
the Provision of Assistance. The CTC has discussed and
developed its ideas on the role it can most usefully play. The two key instruments are the “Directory
of CT Information and Sources of Assistance” (which should include as much
information as possible) and the “matrix of needs” (which needs to be further
expanded by the Experts and Sub-Committees to include all relevant States and
priorities for each one). The Special
Meeting should encourage all regional organisations to understand what all
these tools are and to contribute to them.
The Action
Plan might:
·
Commit
the CTC to update the matrix and circulate it on the first day of each month;
·
Commit
the CTC to circulate at regular intervals a paper on the gaps in assistance
provision and the priorities for each state;
·
Encourage
IOs, ROs and bilateral donors to contribute as much information to the CTC as
possible.