Coordinating counter-terrorism actions within and beyond the UN system
The United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (A/RES/60/288), adopted by Member States on 8 September 2006, serves as a common platform, bringing the efforts of the United Nations system entities that work on counter-terrorism related issues into a common, coherent and more focused framework (see background note).
The Strategy gives support to the practical work of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF), established by the Secretary-General in July 2005 to ensure overall coordination and coherence in the counter-terrorism efforts of the United Nations system (see CTITF organigram). Member States expressed support and appreciation for the work of the Task Force when they met to examine progress in the implementation of the Strategy in September 2008 (A/RES/62/272). In June 2009, the Secretary-General made initial arrangements to institutionalize the Task Force by establishing a CTITF-Secretariat in the Department of Political Affairs (DPA). CTITF aims to catalyze and mobilize counter-terrorism efforts of various UN system entities to assist Member States in implementing the Strategy.
A compilation of activities undertaken by CTITF entities in implementing the Strategy was issued in a report by the Secretary-General in July 2008. In addition a fact sheet has been updated with summary information on actions taken by CTITF entities in this regard. CTITF has also compiled an Online Handbook, launched by the Secretary-General in February 2007, containing information on the counter-terrorism activities of its member entities and providing information on and access to existing counter-terrorism resources available through the UN system.
CTITF entities:
- Counter-terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED)
- Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO)
- Department of Political Affairs (DPA)
- Department of Safety and Security (DSS)
- Expert Staff of 1540 Committee
- International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
- International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
- International Maritime Organization (IMO)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF)
- International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL)
- Monitoring Team of 1267 Committee
- Office for Disarmament Affairs (ODA)
- Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
- Office of Legal Affairs (OLA)
- Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
- Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism
- United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI)
- United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
- World Customs Organization (WCO)
- World Bank
- World Health Organization (WHO)
The member entities of CTITF contribute to the counter-terrorism effort of the United Nations according to their specific organizational mandates. In addition, CTITF organizes its work through Working Groups and counter-terrorism related projects and initiatives. These involve areas of work where cooperation among United Nations system actors can add value for the implementation of the Strategy:
CTITF Working Groups:
- Integrated Assistance for Countering Terrorism (I-ACT)
- Preventing and Resolving Conflicts
- Supporting and Highlighting Victims of Terrorism
- Preventing and Responding to WMD Attacks
- Tackling the Financing of Terrorism
- Countering the Use of the Internet for Terrorist Purposes
- Strengthening the Protection of Vulnerable Targets
- Protecting Human Rights While Countering Terrorism
Other CTITF Projects and Initiatives
Contact form for Working Groups and Projects and Initiatives