Side Event on Preventing and Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism in Central Asia through the United Nations Multi-Year Appeal

On the margins of the High-Level Conference “International and Regional Border Security and Management Cooperation to Counter Terrorism and Prevent the Movement of Terrorists” in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) hosted a side event on behalf of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact.

The event showcased a new generation of United Nations multi-partner flagship initiatives under the 2021-2022 United Nations Multi-Year Appeal for Counter-Terrorism (MYA) to enhance national and regional capacities for countering terrorism and preventing violent extremism across Central Asia. It brought together voices from United Nations entities in the field as well as perspectives from Member States on the value of joined-up multilateral action and adequate, well-coordinated funding in its support.

In his opening remarks, USG Vladimir Voronkov stressed the need to double down on investing in preventing and countering terrorism through joined-up approaches: “What we need are comprehensive responses that transcend borders, actors, and thematic silos. The initiatives under the United Nations Multi-Year Appeal seek to deliver just that.” Mr. Rofizoda Mirzoamon Hamdam, Deputy Prosecutor General, Republic of Tajikistan, lauded the comprehensive approach taken across relevant government bodies and civil society in Tajikistan in preventing and countering violent extremism and radicalization leading to terrorism, which has been jointly supported by the United Nations and the international community. Ms. Natalia Gherman, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Central Asia and Head of the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), pointed to the multi-faceted risks of global and regional challenges to the prevention of violent extremism and terrorism. She also praised the remarkable unity of the Central Asian states in their response, as exemplified by the Joint Plan of Action for the comprehensive implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in Central Asia.

To rise to the challenge of delivering comprehensive, multi-faceted responses, the 2021-2022 Multi-Year Appeal for Counter-Terrorism consolidates initiatives from 12 entities from across the United Nations system - CTED, IMO, INTERPOL, IOM, OHCHR, UNDP, UNICEF, UNICRI, UNOCT, UNODC, UNRCCA and UN Women - spanning all four Pillars of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. The projects included in the 2021-2022 MYA have thus far received support from 18 donors: Australia, Canada, China, the EU, France, Germany, India, Italy, Monaco, Morocco, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. Member States are encouraged to rally behind the Multi-Year Appeal and explore the user-friendly online dashboard, where all 52 projects can be readily browsed and downloaded. Comprehensive ‘all-of-UN’ approaches build on the strengths of each entity while avoiding duplication and overlap.  They also provide donors an opportunity to make impactful  contributions to the international community’s  effort to counter terrorism. 

Addressing the event via video, H.E. Mr. Alan Hamson, Ambassador of Canada to Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Tajikistan recognized the value of effective multilateral action by noting that “The collaboration between the UNOCT and UNRCCA has produced some of the most important results in both combatting terrorism in Central Asia as well as in helping Central Asia lead the way globally on the reintegration and prosecution of foreign terrorist fighters.” Speaking about Canada’s early positive experiences with funding projects under the Multi-Year Appeal, he stated “Canada is happy to see the framework set in place by the Multi-Year Appeal for Counter-Terrorism, as it is a tool that will enable donor countries to remain agile and targeted in our responses to the complex challenges posed by terrorism and extremism.”  “Through these programmes, we know we are contributing to the security in the region as well as to our own security.” Ambassador Hamson of Canada concluded.