Building Detection Capabilities

About the Programme

The United Nations Countering Terrorist Travel ('CT Travel') Programme, a flagship global initiative of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), assists beneficiary Member States in building their capabilities to detect and counter terrorism and serious crimes by using Advance Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) data to improve the use of international databases with known and suspected terrorists and criminals, and enhance international information exchange, in accordance with Security Council resolutions 2178 (2014), 2396 (2017), and 2482 (2019), international standards and recommended practices and human rights principles.

The Secretary-General officially launched the Programme on 7 May 2019. Six years on, CT Travel is working closely with 90 Member States, 68 are beneficiaries of the comprehensive technical assistance. Eight (8)  have become strategic partners, including Seven (7) Member States (Austria, Belgium, France, Hungary, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America), and one (1) regional organization (CARICOM-IMPACS on behalf of 15 countries) have become strategic partners.​

In an ''One-UN'' partnership with the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the United Nations Office of Information and Communication Technology (UNOICT), the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The Programme comprehensively assists beneficiary Member States in legislative, operational, transport industry engagement, and technology support areas. This includes the donation and deployment of the United Nations ‘goTravel’ software system. The Programme has been designed in accordance with human rights principles and United Nations policies in this regard.

The United Nations Countering Terrorist Travel ('CT Travel') Programme is co-funded by strategic investments and in-kind support from the European Union, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the State of Qatar, Germany, Australia, the United States of America, the Republic of India, Japan, Hungary, the Republic of Korea, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Switzerland.

How we support Member States

Analyzing Passenger Data

The detection capability, commonly referred to as a ‘Passenger Information Unit’ (PIU), analyzes passenger data received from multiple modes of transportation (including air, maritime, and land modes) and identifies known and suspected terrorists by cross-checking against national and international databases and watchlists, including those of INTERPOL, and previously unknown threats using risk indicators. The PIU works to detect and track threats and alert national and international competent authorities, helping to investigate or interdict individuals associated with terrorism and other serious crimes.

Four Pillars

Programme provides assistance to Member States across four key pillars of work:

• Pillar I provides legislative assistance to draft or strengthen legal frameworks to regulate the collection, transmission, use, retention, and sharing of passenger data in compliance with internationally recognized standards and human rights principles.
• Pillar II supports the set-up of a Passenger Information Unit (PIU) to facilitate a passenger data single window, which has the capacity to use an intelligence-led approach to conduct risk assessments, implement appropriate targeting measures, as well as identify, detect and intercept FTFs and other serious criminals. To support this, our capacity-building includes training, drafting national standard operating procedures, and sharing of expertise.
• Pillar III provides support in establishing carrier engagement and connectivity. This is done through close cooperation with the transport industry. Through collaboration, the country can partner with the industry and securely collect the data by electronic means.
• Pillar IV provides technology support and expertise for the ‘goTravel’ software, which is an effective software solution for countries to collect and process passenger data. We support Member states by deploying this software free of charge and by providing all the required support and maintenance to run the system.