Counter-Terrorism Technical Assistance Programmes

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

Technical Assistance Programme Description	With its expertise in conflict prevention, crisis management and early warning, the OSCE contributes to world-wide efforts in combating terrorism. Many effective counter-terrorism measures fall into areas in which the OSCE is already active, such as police training and border monitoring. There are various social, economic and political factors fostering conditions in which terrorist organizations are able to recruit and gather support. The OSCE's comprehensive approach to security - which encompasses (1) the politico-military, (2) the economic and environmental, as well as (3) the human dimensions of security - provides comparative advantages in combating terrorism by identifying and addressing these factors through all relevant OSCE instruments and structures. Below are the OSCE bodies, units and institutions active in combating terrorism and their corresponding areas of assistance and expertise. 1. Secretariat - Action against Terrorism Unit (ATU) The ATU is the focal point for co-ordinating and facilitating OSCE counter-terrorism activities, including capacity-building assistance programmes, conducting training and organizing expert workshops. The Unit assists the OSCE participating States in implementing anti-terrorism commitments, thereby enhancing their overall capacities to prevent and combat terrorism. To be most effective, the ATU liaises with other international, regional and sub-regional organizations. The aim is to avoid unnecessary duplication of efforts and at the same time foster complementarity. The Unit's main programmes and activities are as follows: - Promoting the international legal framework against terrorism: At the 2001 Ministerial Council, the OSCE participating States committed themselves to becoming party to the 12 universal anti-terrorism conventions and protocols, which were in force at that time. This commitment was later reinforced by Ministerial Statements in 2005 and 2006. Within this programme, and in co-operation with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the ATU organizes national and sub-regional workshops promoting the ratification of the now 16 universal anti-terrorism conventions and protocols. In order to support the implementation of the aforementioned instruments, the ATU offers assistance to participating States in drafting legislation for the appropriate criminalization of terrorist offences. - Enhancing international legal co-operation in criminal matters related to terrorism: The OSCE participating States have committed themselves to enhancing legal co-operation in criminal matters to counter terrorism. Starting in 2005, the ATU, in partnership with the UNODC, has organized several training workshops on international co-operation in criminal matters, addressing issues such as mutual legal assistance and extradition, as well as promoting the universal and, were applicable, European legal framework related to terrorism and co-operation in criminal matters, and also encouraging the broader use of relevant technical assistance tools for facilitating this co-operation. - Enhancing passport and travel document security: The ATU facilitates assistance to requesting participating States in improving their travel document security. This includes organizing national workshops and visits of experts from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and Interpol, as well as other organizations to improve understanding of different aspects of electronic and biometric passports. The Unit also organizes sub-regional and national workshops encouraging the implementation of the ICAO Minimum Security Standards for the Handling and Issuance of Machine Readable Passports. Starting in 2003, the ATU, in co-operation with ICAO and Interpol, has organized numerous workshops, trainings or technical meetings on travel document security. The Unit also supports the implementation of OSCE commitments with regard to the use of Interpol's database of lost and stolen travel documents (ASF-SLTD) and the deployment of Interpol's fixed or mobile technical platforms (FIND and MIND). The ATU further organizes trainings aimed at enhancing the capacities of national border authorities to detect and prevent the use of counterfeit travel documents. - Promoting public-private partnerships (PPP) in countering terrorism: The OSCE promotes PPPs in many of its counter-terrorism activities including, inter alia, travel document security, combating the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes, suppressing terrorism financing, protecting and promoting human rights in the fight against terrorism, enhancing transport security as well as container and supply chain security. In 2007, the OSCE organized a high-level political PPP conference with the theme "Partnership of State Authorities, Civil Society and the Business Community in Combating Terrorism", which aimed at further exploring the potential of such co-operation, identifying existing gaps and best practices. The OSCE now organizes regional and sub-regional follow-up events, which focus notably on the role of civil society and the media in the fight against terrorism, as well as PPPs in protecting critical infrastructures. - Combating the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes: This programme addresses the variety of ways in which terrorists use the Internet such as, inter alia, for identifying, recruiting and training new members, collecting and transferring funds, organizing terrorist acts, and inciting terrorist violence, especially through the dissemination of propaganda and glorification of terrorism. Moreover, the use of computer systems and the Internet as weapons for cyber-attacks is a growing concern for the international community. The ATU has been active in combating terrorist use of the Internet since 2004 and has already devoted several OSCE-wide events to this issue. Building on this past work, the OSCE is considering follow-up activities aimed at addressing cyber-security in a comprehensive manner. - Enhancing container and supply-chain security: The ATU addresses threats to the container and supply-chain security by organizing expert meetings and training workshops for practitioners. The Unit also supports and facilitates the work of relevant specialized entities, in particular the World Customs Organization (WCO) with its Framework of Standards to Secure and Facilitate International Trade (SAFE). In co-operation with other relevant actors, the ATU also continues to promote the development and implementation of a concept for a comprehensive and integrated approach to supply chain security, which would further improve the security of the entire supply chain from origin to destination. - Countering violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism: A 2007 OSCE Ministerial Statement in support of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy emphasized the strategic importance of addressing the spread of violent extremism and the process of radicalization that leads certain individuals to commit acts of terrorism. Participating States reaffirmed that the OSCE would continue its activities to address these issues and are considering how the Organization, with a multidimensional approach, could foster better understanding of these phenomena and reiterated the OSCE's support in advancing the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1624 (2005). The ATU is actively promoting discussions among stakeholders aimed at identifying good practices and possible future activities in this area. - Protecting critical energy infrastructures from terrorist attacks: The OSCE participating States have recognized that critical energy infrastructures, such as nuclear power plants or refineries, can be particularly vulnerable to terrorist attacks. Consequently, the ATU promotes enhanced co-operation and co-ordination among participating States on measures to increase the protection of critical energy infrastructures and to effectively address preparedness/consequence management issues, including through public-private partnerships. - The OSCE Counter-Terrorism Network (CTN): The CTN was established to foster and further stimulate counter-terrorism related information exchange among the OSCE participating States and international partners. The main vehicle in this regard is the monthly CTN Newsletter prepared by the ATU. It is circulated in both English and Russian to some 350 CTN contact points within OSCE participating States, regional and international organizations, as well as OSCE Institutions and field operations. - Identifying and addressing current and emerging terrorist threats: The ATU responds to the changing security concerns of participating States relating to current and emerging terrorist threats. In consultation with relevant partners, the Unit identifies and raises awareness of new terrorist threats and proposes options to address them in the OSCE framework. In this regard, the ATU has, for example, organized expert workshops on topical issues such as the threat of Man-Portable-Air-Defence-Systems (MANPADS) to civil aviation (2004), suicide terrorism (2005) and urban transport security (2006). 2. Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) - Assistance with small arms: 1) Responding to requests for assistance on the security and management of stockpiles of small arms; 2) Assisting with, and possible monitoring of, the reduction and disposal of small arms in the state in question; 3) Encouraging and, as necessary, providing advice or mutual assistance to implement and reinforce border controls to reduce illicit trafficking in small arms; 4) Assisting with small arms collection and control programmes;5) Dissemination of the Handbook of Best Practices on Small Arms and Light Weapons. - Assistance with stockpiles of ammunition: 1) Collecting information on the needs expressed by OSCE participating states as well as on resources for assistance 2) Providing risk assessment, as well as advice on stockpile management and on destruction; 3) Providing help in elaborating a programme for the destruction of surplus stockpiles or enhancement of their management; 4) Assisting the requesting state in the definition of projects (pre-feasibility stage) by setting up multinational assistance teams of experts designed to make a preliminary assessment of a given situation; 5) Assisting the requesting State in the training of personnel involved in the destruction of conventional ammunition, explosive material or detonating devices, as well as in stockpile management and security; 6) Development of the Handbook of Best Practices on Conventional Ammunition. 3. Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) The ODIHR runs a wide range of programmes promoting human rights, building democratic institutions, and strengthening the rule of law as key components that enable states to address the various social, economic, political, and other factors that engender conditions in which terrorist and extremist organizations may recruit or win support. - Manual and Training: The ODIHR has published a manual on "Countering Terrorism, Protecting Human Rights" and has developed a 3-day training module for counter-terrorism practitioners on protecting human rights while countering terrorism. This training has been delivered in several participating States. - Expert Meetings and Workshops: The ODIHR has convened or contributed to several expert meetings and workshops on specific topics relating to human rights and counter-terrorism, including extradition, international co-operation, incitement, the use of internet, the rights of victims, the role of civil society, and security, religion and radicalization. - Legislative Assistance: The ODIHR also provides technical legislative assistance, including with respect to the ratification and implementation of international counter-terrorism instruments. 4. Secretariat - Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) - Countering the financing of terrorism /combating money laundering: The OSCE organises and facilitates legal and institutional capacity building with regard to the implementation of the UN Convention on the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism and other international instruments. This assistance is closely co-ordinated with UNODC's Global Programme against Money Laundering. Assistance conforms to the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force and the UN Model on Combating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing. The OSCE also works closely with other international organisations such as the World Bank, NATO, the EBRD, MONEYVAL, the International Monetary Fund, the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (EAG) in the area of combating terrorist financing, corruption, organised crime and money-laundering. 5. Secretariat - Strategic Police Matters Unit (SPMU) - Community Policing: The SPMU recognises the role of intelligence-led and community-based policing in the prevention of terrorist activities, in particular with a view towards establishing trustful and mutually supportive relations between the police and the public, also encompassing measures which can lead to de-radicalization and reintegration of violent extremists into society. As a result, the Unit has published, supports and promotes the operationalization of a book which reflects the OSCE experience in community policing: "Good Practices in Building Police and Public Partnerships". It is available via www.polis.osce.org - Investigations, criminal evidence and police training: The SPMU supports activities aimed at speeding up investigations and judicial proceedings, as well as those strengthening and improving the co-operation between the police, prosecutors and judges. In particular, as the SPMU understands that Basic Police Training is a key foundation for the development of further skills in police officers, the Unit is in the process of publishing a Guidebook on Good Practices in Basic Police Training, which will be also available via www.polis.osce.org
Technical Assistance Methodology	Needs assessment is a part of the initial dialogue between the OSCE and its participating States that request assistance. On such basis, assistance teams and workshops are planned and conducted. In principle, requests for assistance are initiated by States. However, in an effort to be more pro-active, the ATU has initiated approaches to some States to inform capitals about available assistance workshops and capacity building measures. In the few cases that the ATU has done so, States have responded positively. The ATU is also encouraging OSCE field presences to do the same. To this end, the ATU has prepared a Field Reference Guide for anti-terrorism programmes and resource documents for use by OSCE field offices. Some assistance programmes, such as travel document security, have been based mainly on a regional approach, others, such as legal co-operation in criminal matters, on a combination of OSCE-wide, sub-regional and national workshops.
Technical Assistance Eligibility	OSCE capacity building programmes are limited to participating States of the organization.

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