United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy
The United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (A/RES/60/288) is a unique global instrument to enhance national, regional and international efforts to counter terrorism. Through its adoption in 2006 by the General Assembly without a vote (by consensus), all United Nations Member States agreed to a common strategic and operational approach to countering terrorism.
The General Assembly affirmed in the Strategy, and has since reaffirmed in multiple resolutions, that Member States have the primary responsibility to implement the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and to prevent and counter terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism. The Strategy sends a clear message that terrorism is unacceptable in all its forms and manifestations. It demonstrates Member States’ resolve to take practical steps, individually and collectively, to prevent and counter terrorism.
Pillars of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy
The United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy is composed of four pillars, namely:
- Measures to address the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism.
- Measures to prevent and combat terrorism.
- Measures to build States’ capacity to prevent and combat terrorism and to strengthen the role of the United Nations system in that regard.
- Measures to ensure respect for human rights for all and the rule of law as the fundamental basis of the fight against terrorism.
Reviews of the United Nations Global Counter Terrorism Strategy
Since 2006, the General Assembly has reviewed the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, usually every two years, making it a living document attuned to Member States’ counter-terrorism priorities. The review of the Strategy represents an opportunity for Member States to renew commitment to multilateral efforts to prevent and counter terrorism in response to emerging threats and evolving trends of international terrorism.
In 2026, the United Nations General Assembly will conduct the ninth review of the Strategy, marking the 20th anniversary of its adoption as a crucial framework for international cooperation to prevent and counter terrorism. This milestone offers Member States an opportunity to reflect on the progress made in implementing the Strategy since the eighth review in 2023 and to further identify and address emerging trends and threats.
All Member States participate in the review of the Strategy as part of the work of the General Assembly. Early on at the eightieth session of the General Assembly (September 2025-September 2026), its President is expected to appoint co-facilitators to assist in the steering of this intergovernmental process. UNOCT, through its Policy, Knowledge Management and Coordination Branch, will serve as substantive secretariat, supporting the co-facilitators, negotiations and consultations until the conclusion of deliberations by the General Assembly.
Report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the United Nations system in implementing the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy
The Secretary-General is requested to submit to the General Assembly at its eightieth session, no later than February 2026, a report on progress made in the implementation of the Strategy, containing suggestions for its future implementation by the United Nations system, as well as on progress made in the implementation of resolution 77/298, which was adopted by the General Assembly for the eighth review of the Strategy.
Member States, international and regional organizations, permanent observers to the General Assembly, as well as members of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact have been invited to provide updates on their activities in implementing or contributing to the implementation of the Strategy.
An open call has been issued for interested stakeholders, including civil society, media organizations, think tanks and research institutions, and the private sector, to share their views to inform the report of the Secretary-General.
Submissions from stakeholders who consent to making their submissions public will be made available accordingly.
For more information on UNOCT’s support to the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and its reviews, please contact us at: oct-sgreportgcts@un.org
UNOCT Knowledge Products to support the ninth review of the Strategy
To support and inform Member States’ discussions in advance of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy review – and in line with its mandate to provide strategic leadership in United Nations counter-terrorism efforts – UNOCT will develope a series of knowledge products focused on counter-terrorism and preventing and countering violent extremism conducive to terrorism (CT/PCVE).
These products are dedicated to key thematic areas including the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Architecture, the Background and Evolution of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, and the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact.
For more information or to request access to additional knowledge products, please contact: oct-pkmcb-kmsss-kmu@un.org